American Idol winner Ruben Studdard has reportedly been dropped from J. Records after disappointing record sales of his most current release, 2006’s The Return.
Studdard’s first J. Record release, Soulful, released in 2003, is RIAA certified platinum. His 2004 gospel follow up, I Need An Angel also fared well - reaching gold status. However, sales from The Return have been unable to match his previous success, moving barely 235,000 copies.
Here is an email that was sent to us earlier this week:
“My brother tours as a background singer for Ruben Studdard and he was just informed today that Ruben was dropped by J Records. The sales were just too bad from his last album. He has only sold 234,000 copies.”
Most recently, in November, he spent time touring alongside Robin Givens in a play called “Heaven I Need a Hug” and according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he is currently preparing to play jazz great Fats Waller in a national theatre tour of “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” Studdard is also scheduled to make a holiday appearance in his hometown Birmingham, Alabama this weekend, performing with his old band Just a Few Cats at the WorkPlay soundstage.
Wow, tough break. I wonder if Ruben will shop himself around for another deal and put out another album? That’s a shame. He was America’s Teddy Bear!
Sterling Simms was someone that I was looking out for this past year, but he disappointed me a little bit. I was impressed with his collaboration with Jay-Z on 2006’s Kingdom Come on “Dig A Hole,” but with two failed singles released earlier in the year (I hated the first one, featuring Sean Paul from Youngbloodz, “Jump Off,” but I was absolutely in love with the Prince-inspired “Nasty Girl”), I wasn’t sure where that was going to leave Sterling. My interest in his project was revived slightly when Mario brought him on stage at a concert over the summer and he performed a little bit.
But he’s back with a new single, “Stuck In Traffic,” featuring Cassidy. Even though I’m not in love with it, like I was “Nasty Girl,” I can see it’s appeal as a single for radio. It feels a little bit too much like R. Kelly for me, but I guess it’s whatever works. Hopefully “Stuck In Traffic” will give Sterling the lift he needs to get his album released.
Raven Symone was spotted at Criss Angel’s birthday in Las Vegas on Wednesday night. The entrepreneur has a new movie with Martin Lawerence coming out next year. Click here for more info.
You ever wonder where stars like Rihanna and Alicia Keys get their cute accessories from? Well look no further we found the source of all those dope earrings, necklaces, and bracelets you’ve been seeing black stars wearing this year.
Cubannie Links is the brainchild of jewelry designer Annie Basulto. This Miami native has been making major moves this year with her handmade accessories.
‘CL’ as she likes to call it, started earlier this year and has already caught the eye of fashionistas like Rihanna (who can be spotted rocking her pieces at numerous events), Alicia Keys, and Kat Deluna.
Michael Jackson is set to release a special edition packet of his classic album, Thriller. It is the 25th of the album, and Epic/Legacy Recordings is proudly putting out the set with remixes from Kanye West, Will.I.Am & Fergie of Black Eyed Peas, and Akon, in stores February 12th. Streaming above, is the remix to “Billie Jean” that Kanye West twerked out.
The 25th anniversary celebration kicks off in December 2007 with the release of a new single and continues throughout 2008 with a multi-faceted global marketing campaign featuring high-profile television, radio and online events around the world. It will include the original album in its entirety as well as eight bonus tracks and a DVD featuring Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking short films from Thriller (”Thriller,” “Beat It,” and “Billie Jean”) and the artist’s Emmy-nominated breakout performance of “Billie Jean” from the legendary “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever” television special (first broadcast on NBC on May 16, 1983).
(L-R) Sharon Jones, Denzel Washington, Nate Parker, Forest Whitaker, Jurnee Smollett and Denzel Whitaker attend the reception for “The Great Debaters” New York Premiere at the Ziegfeld Theater on Wednesday night.
The Great Debaters will hit theaters on Christmas Day. Make sure you go out and support.
Here is another edition of rock’d it better featuring tour mates Ciara and Rihanna. Ciara rocks these Christian Louboutin DonJon Over the Knee Boots (retail priced at $2350!) during the European tour. Rihanna happened to rock the boots in the last issue of Vibe Vixen magazine. Which lady styles them better?
You ever wonder where stars like Rihanna and Alicia Keys get their cute accessories from? Well look no further we found the source of all those dope earrings, necklaces, and bracelets you’ve been seeing black stars wearing this year.
