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mm http://www.th echaTIoSeposCoifr tKlic Cliarlotte ^ost THURSDAY JULY 20, 2006 \^emor s Section V4-V/X1 Forgive R&B artist for being true to old school By Cheris F. Hodges cftens.hodgessfihechottoffeposf.com His real name is Go\ cmor, last name Wasliingtcm. Yes, he’s on T.I.’s Grand Hustle label, but he’s not a rapper. He’s a sou! man and a regular gu>. “I’m a guy who stiuggled ancl has a dream,” he said. ‘Tin trying to put the blues back in R&B ” Tonight, Governo! will peiTonn for the first time at Tlie Ja7. Cafe, 2127 Ayrsle, Towu Blvd. Doo open at 6 p.m. a the perfonnanc bemns at 8 p.n; Adniission is SIO. f Governor, a nativ^ of \lrginia, got his B.DUKLMEMOPjaUIERAJY JOHNSON C.Sfoh'.. 28 lie Cancelling ‘BET Uncut’ based on money, not pressure By Cheris F. Hodges cheris.hocJges®)hechortoffepos/.com Has BET cleaned up its act? The controversial “BET Uncut,” a video program which showed the raunchier side of hip-hop, has been ' pulled hum the air waves. But the videos, mostly shot in strip clubs, featured strip pers and other barely-dressed women, will still be available on the internet at w w w. B E'Tuncut. ne t, although it is not clear if the website is affiliated with the network. So, after six years, why did BET drop the show? Debra Lee, CEO of BET, told EURWEB, “It was a great show for a segment of our audience, it was always controversial because it took videos to a different level. Because of all the new pro- grammii^ we’re doing, my view was it was time for that show to end.” Fans of the show aren’t happy and have started a petition to have the bootyfest brought back on the air. An Internet petition, which has been circulating since early July, has about 567 signa tures. Two years ago, students at Atlanta’s all-women Spebnan College brought national attention to the program after Nelly’s “Tip Drill” video aired, showing the rapper swiping a credit card through a woman’s backside. Spelman students wanted the show canceled but a network spokesman said that wasn’t going to happen, because “Uncut’ had a cult-Hke follow ing. Nhchael LeweUen, a net work spokesman, told USATb- day in 2004, that “BET Uncut” was specifically for adults and the show allowed aihsts to express themselves. But, says Johnson C. Smith communications arts profes sor and television expert Naei^a Burton, Ph.D, can celling “Uncut” isn’t some benevolent move on the part of the network. ‘Tf Uncut was a financial benefit to them, it would still be on the air,” Burton said. “In this industry, its about the bottom line.” Burton said the lack of advertising money coupled with years of complaints about the show is more than likely the real reason why Uncut was pulled. “Its a good thing they’re try ing to clear up their image,” she said. “Its about 30 years too late.” Hunt is certain he’s a hitmaker, he’s just not sure when By NekesQ Moody THE ASSOCJATED PRESS NEW YORK - Van Hunts guitar-laden rock “n’ soul riff’s have' earned critical raves and drawn comparisons to greats like Prince. But for all the laurels he’s received for his self-titled 2004 debut and this year’s fol low-up, “On The Jun^e Floor,” the one thing the 29- year-old singer-songwriter hasn't achieved is commercial success. Appearances on shows such as “Late Night TOth David Letterman” and plenty of buzz have yet to help Hunt break through on urban radio, where hip-hop and slick R&B dominate, or on today’s heavily formatted pop sta tions. Yet Van Hunt refuses to accept the idea that his music may be too esoteric or abstract to appeal to a mass audience. “I do think they can be hits - they just need to be played,” Hunt says of his soi^. “I sit down and I write and I make sure that it follows the code of Songwriting Craft 101. Fve got hits ... IneedDJs.” There’s not a hint of arro gance as the Atlanta-based PHO'Td/CAPITOL RECORDS Van Hunt is sure that he’ll reach the top of the charts. musician’s attitude-just a cool confidence. Hunt isn’t worried about whether folks will finally catch on to his sound -he’s just biding his time until it happens. “Anything that is different for long enou^, it becomes legitimate, so I think by the third record, we’ll establish the name as a brand and peo ple will get into it,” says Himt, wearing his signature head scarf, over an eel sushi lunch at an upscale Manhattan restaurant. ■ “I always knew” I was an artist, and even more impor tantly a star,” Hunt declares. And he’s got the backing of a man who’s helped create the biggest star-makti:^ machine of the last few years on his side - “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson. Songs in the key of Lyfe: Jennings baek with ‘The Phoenix’ By Cheris F.,Hodges cheris.Oodges@(hechor/o»eposf.com It’s hard to believe Lyfe Jen nings is back with a new record already After all, his first album is still getting a lot of air play- especially the single “Must Be Nice.” But the R&B singer is set to release “The Phoenix” on August 15. “This album is. named for my son, whose name is Phoenix and for the m54ho- logical bird the Phoenix that was reborn through fire,” he said. “Our fires are day to day stuff that no one talks about.” At a tour stop in C3iarlotte earker this week, Jennings talked about lessons that he’s learned since the release of his self-titled debut and where he is now. It’s also easier for Lyfe to get his music played on the radio these days. “Radio knows that I can pull their audience now,” he said. The first single is “S-E-X” and it’s No. 21 on the Bill board charts, althou^ the song isn’t about a romp in the hay It’s about a voluptuous young girl and how the men in the neighborhood want to sleep with her. “As soon as a woman starts developing, she gets all of this attention immediately,” he said. “No one ever talks about that.” Jennings knows what he’s singing about because the singer said that when he returned home from jail, he ran into situations where he’d see a pretty girl and have a conversation with her only to find out that she was 16 years old. “I would keep it moving,” he said. But for those men who don’t, he said he hopes the track will get th^ thinking about their own nieces or daughters. ‘Way- Up!’a slam dunk Wayjmn Tisdale Way Up! Various producers Rendezvous Eniertoinmeia Wayman Tisdale’s basket ball career may have been spotty but he’s yet to miss as a recording artist Thie, his albums don’t sell millions, but the quality has been outstanding. “Way Upl” is Tisdale’s latest and possibly the best of the bunch. Tisdale doesn’t reinvent the wheel or anything, he simply offers superb musicianship with solid songs. Tisdale takes the approach of most smooth jazz aitists - offering a couple of well- known r&b songs set to jazz and a number radio friendly new sor^. Tisdale chose Kool & The Gang’s “Get Down On It” and a Sly & The Family Stone gem called ‘TfYou Want kfe Tb Stay” On each, Tisdale shows his skills as a bass player are more than capable to transfer r&b into some thing jazzy ‘TfYou Want Me Tb Stay”. is especially tasty with Kirk Whalum’s siU^ sax gliding gracefully through Tisdale’s athletic bass work. Tisdale’s best work may be George Duke on “Tbll It Like It Tis.” Duke’s keyboard work is as steady as always and his production on the track juices Tisdale’s performance. This should be a precursor to an entire CD produced by Duke. Tisdale’s other offerings are nearly as memorable. Eric Benetis vocals are a delicious touch to “Sweet Dreams.” Dave Koz guests on the CD’s second best song, “My Son (A Song For Bubba).” And Jonathan Butler’s acoustic guitar and haunting vocals make “Sunday’s Best” a pa'- feet way to close this CD. I don’t know if Tisdale miss es the NBA, but I do know he’s certainly found his caU- ing. Given that he’s become famous for advising wannabe pop stars how to fashion their voice for ultimate mass appeal, Jackson’s link to Hunt might seem a bit pecu liar. But Jackson has been his manager going back almost a decade, when Hunt was a Morehouse dropout looking to make his mark as a song writer and produce. ‘T just fdl in love with song- writing and his commitment to himself as an artist,” says Jackson, who describes Himtis soimd sis “if you put Ned Young, Sly Stone, A1 Green in a blender.” At the beginning of his career, Hunt’s soxmd was being performed by others. His breakthrough was the song “Hopeless,” which he Please see HUNT/2D Since the release of his first album, Jennings said that he’s learned more about the business and himself ‘You have to keep your pur pose ri^t,” he said. “If you don’t keep your purpose right, then a lot of things are going to set you off Cats not playing your record is going to make you mad. Your label not putting the kind of promotion behind your record is going to Please see JENNINGS /2D Ratings Classic; Excellent; Good Fair Why? P No stars - A mess 9»0
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