Though we don’t have all the details of the new We Are The World song, some details are trickling out.
Here are some of the things which I have heard or read:
– Justin Bieber is supposedly singing Lionel’s opening line. “There comes a time…” Don’t you need bass in your voice to sing that part?
– Lil’ Wayne is scheduled to sing Bob Dylan’s original part and he thought they were playing a joke on him when told him.
– Celine Dion is going to sing Cyndi Lauper’s part, which is one of the more famous parts of the original video. I don’t think she’ll have the wacky hair though unfortunately.
– Janet Jackson was rumored to be singing Michael Jackson’s bridge, but there’s also talk that MJ’s voice will be used somehow. Maybe MJ’s “shalah-shalingay” chorus that he recorded for the demo will finally see the light of day?
– Hip hop will be represented in the new version. Some of the rumored stars include T-Pain, Kanye West, Bizzy Bone, Kid Cudi, LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, Drake, Mann, Nipsey Hussle, Busta Rhymes and Swizz Beatz. Don’t ask me who Mann and Nipsey Hussle are because I have no clue.
– We may see the premiere of the video on the first day of the Winter Olympics.
MTV.com has some video of the Monday night recording session which I’ve added below.
VH-1’s Hip Hop Honors show is one of my favorite shows of the year. It’s still amazing that VH-1 of all stations pays respect to the hip hop genre best, but hey, I’m not complaining.
(By the way, I know that it’s not technically live considering I’m on the West Coast, and I’m DVRing it so that I don’t have to watch commercials, but when people look at this in a few years, will they even know?)
(Wait, I just let the cat out of the bag. Damn.)
This year’s show pays respect to the Def Jam label. I hope we see some Rick Rubin tonight. I know we’ll see a lot of Russell Simmons.
And away we go…
Russell Simmons at the 2008 VMAs– I think I saw Rubin already. It was either him or Jesus Christ. I’m not quite sure yet.
– If you like you some Tracy Morgan, this is your show. If you don’t like you some Tracy Morgan, I’m not sure how much of this you’ll be able to stomach.
– Hey, LL is on this show even though he doesn’t have a record to pimp. Wait, didn’t he just start a new TV show?
– Black Thought and Eminem tear up Rock The Bells, but I was a bit sad watching because it takes Em doing hip hop karaoke to show that he can still bring it.
– Jazzy Jeff was spinning and ?uestlove was on the drums by the way. Talk about all-star cast.
– Why is Jimmy Fallon on this show? Oh yah, he put the Roots on his show. He can be on it.
– You know how Dr. Dre got all swoll in his later years? Chuck D doesn’t believe in that.
– Another reason I like this show is because it’s the one time a year where we get to see what Flavor Flav did that truly made him famous.
– I’m not quite sure that Ludacris deserves to be on the same stage that Public Enemy just graced, but oh well, it’s all about the love tonight.
– KRS-One doing No Sleep ‘Till Brooklyn? Well, he can do whatever song he wants as long as he doesn’t get mad at us.
– For The Love Of Ray J is still on? It’s amazing that the same station that puts Ray J in his drawers on TV is the same station that puts this show together.
– Warren G and Trey Songz just doesn’t have the same ring to it as Warren G and Nate Dogg. “And I see my homie Trey,” just doesn’t work for me.
– Only Brett Ratner would use the name “Method Man” and the words “true genius” in the same sentence. I’m not sure Mef’s mom would say that. Whatever happened their TV show Method and Red?
– Uh oh, I may get a little excited here. Mary J is here and she and Meth are going to perform I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By, and it’s not the Diddy remix.
– Onyx is on the stage and everyone watching all said at the same time, “I guess Onyx is still alive.”
– I think the last time I saw Eve was on last year’s Hip Hop Honors show.
– Ja Rule and Ashanti are on the stage doing an old favorite. Wait, I’m not sure any of their songs were old favorites. I always thought that they should let Ja Rule stand on a box whenever he was rapping on stage. He looks like Tupac’s mini me.
(For the first time in the history of this show, I hit the fast forward. I apologize. Ja Rule and Ashanti did a second song. I couldn’t take it anymore.)
– There’s been an Oran “Juice” Jones sighting. I repeat, there’s been an Oran “Juice” Jones sighting.
– Hold on, I may have to fast forward again. I think Tracy just introduced Rick Ross. On most of the earlier performances, Russ Simmons and Chris Rock were rappin’ along with the songs. Not with Ross. They’re just pretending to like it.
– DMX is back! If you’ve been wondering what X is into lately, he’s supposedly “fighting” on an MMA show. Notice the word fighting in quotes.
– Let’s put it this way; Kid Rock is a more charismatic rhymer than Rick Ross.
– EPMD is doing Crossover, but poor Parrish’s mic isn’t working.
– Foxy Brown is wearing the same clothes she wore in 1997, except she’s about 25 pounds heavier in the chest area. Always trying to keep up with Lil’ Kim.
– I can’t believe they ended the show with Doug E. Doug doing Kanye’s Touch The Sky.
– Oh well, even though it was probably the worst of the Hip Hop Honors show, there was still some good stuff. Watch for the first half.
– By the way, was Jay-Z busy or persona non grata?
After the Chris Brown and Rihanna situation went down before the Grammys, I decided to stay away from making fun of the music news. That situation was way too real.
But, there’s other stuff to joke about now.
50 Cent Gets Pushed Back Again
The original release date for 50 Cent’s Before I Self Destruct was in early February. Obviously, that time has passed. And now, 50 Cent is getting pushed back again. The reason? Well, because Dr. Dre’s heavy hitter, Eminem’s album is coming out first.
Right now I’m on the train and the Em choo-choo car goes first.
You have to admit, that’s probably the right move. But let’s hope 50’s album doesn’t “self destruct” before it ever comes out.
DMX DMX Loses A Food Fight
Can you feel bad for Earl “DMX” Simmons these days? Highly unlikely. Already serving a 90-day sentence, DMX allegedly threw a tray of food at a detention officer. According to the story, DMX didn’t want to eat his nutra-loaf and decided to try and take another meal that wasn’t his. When called on it, he supposedly threw the tray of food at the officer. It’s possible that this episode can add more time to his stay.
Uncle L Gets Another Shot At TV
And here I thought when it came to television, he’d only be known as Marion Hill in In The House. That show is very memorable, but mostly because the fine Maia Campbell was in it. It looks like Uncle L, the future of the funk, is going to be on NCIS: Legend, which is a spin-off of the show NCIS, which is a show that I’ve never seen. Good for LL because maybe it will keep him away from the mic. Exit 13 was no-kay.
Before I leave you, I can’t believe the kid who did one of the worst renditions of Michael Jackson’s Man In The Mirror that I’ve ever heard made it to the final 12 of American Idol. Yep, I’ll be back when we get down to the final 12 to break it down.
