The Latest Headlines!


Teairra & Christina Share Valentines Memories!
February 12th, 2009
UrbanBridgez.com: What's your best Valentine's Day memory?

Teairra Mari: Oooh! [laughs] I don't know if I have one. In school I got little cards and stuff, but I can say my worst was when I didn't get anything at all. You know how they go around from class to class giving out candy grahams and stuff and I was just sitting there waiting on mine and I didn't get anything at all. So that was my worst. [laughs]

Christina Milian: It wasn't last year! [laughs] I would say two years ago. At the time I had built my boyfriend an old school Impala from scratch and I surprised him. It was more about the surprise and showing him how much he meant to me.


Desmond Pringle Preps New Release!
January 14th, 2009
Known as the Balladeer of Gospel, soulful singer, songwriter Desmond Pringle prepares for a new CD release Fidelity, which marks the fourth in his phenomenal career. Prefacing the new release is Pringle's debut single off the project. "Hope Is Born" is a timely message of victory and personal empowerment. The world is experiencing an unprecedented time of change - financial stability is challenged, natural disasters have displaced families worldwide and our nation has embarked on the most historic presidential election of our time. In the midst of these sometimes challenging moments in our lives, there is a source of continual hope. Pringle penned "Hope Is Born" to be a sustaining and uplifting anthem of abundant possibility and personal responsibility!

According to Pringle his new project, Fidelity, is a reflection of God's faithfulness in every aspect of our life. "My desire is for people to come away from listening to this project being totally doused in hope and possibility," Pringle explains. "Faith substantiates our hopes and brings into reality what we do not see. It is when we fully embrace this truth that hope is born."

Working on this new project, being a minister and an executive would seem to be more than the average could handle without strategic focus. Pringle says that experiencing these layers in his career has helped him become fully engaged in this process with confidence and a sense of personal responsibility. "It has caused me to perceive and understand the Kingdom principle of "Dominion" from a practical application perspective," Pringle states. "With the accelerated evolution of the music industry growing exponentially on a daily basis, it's imperative that those who minister in the genre broker the power and keep the gates themselves. That's the order of God!" Pringle has been blessed to be a part of Gospel music for over 10 years. His journey into professional music began in the lead role of the hit gospel musical "A Good Man Is Hard To Find". His portrayal received an NAACP Image Award nomination. The native South Carolinian then relocated to Chicago to further develop his musical prowess. His work as a singer/songwriter gained him contributions to award-winning artists including Yolanda Adams, Bishop T. D. Jakes, Shirley Caesar, CeCe Winans and Bishop Paul S. Morton. Add to that, stellar performances at the Stockholm Gospel Festival and the award as the Best Male Vocalist by the African American Religious Connection. In 1998 his independent release "Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs" grabbed the attention of Chicago radio stations and led to a record deal with Tommy Boy Gospel and his highly acclaimed release Loyalty. Pringle also served as VP of Urban / Gospel for Warner Bros. Records. Now, Pringle, Dove Award nominated songwriter, ordained minister and psalmist faithfully travels throughout the country administering workshops, ministering the Word and sharing his heart. After months of preparing and recording, Pringle is energized and ready for this long awaited CD - Fidelity, available spring 2009.

With such a demand for this compelling message, Pringle has made the single available on his website. Consumers can download "Hope Is Born" now for FREE by logging on to http://www.desmondpringle.com/HopeIsBorn. The single will be available via free download for a limited time. Add "Hope Is Born" to your ipod, be encouraged, share the message and claim victory!


Slim Thug Plans New Release!
January 14th, 2009
An imposing figure with a voice to match, Slim Thug established a huge following in short time, which had a lot to do with his business instincts - mixtapes released on his own Boss Hogg Outlawz label circulated throughout the Houston region. Slim's debut album, Already Platinum, dropped in 2005 while his group the Boss Hogg Outlawz released Serve & Collect and Serve & Collect 2 consecutively on KOCH Records. Now Slim is back with his long awaited sophomore album Boss Of All Bosses which is slated to hit stores everywhere in March of '09.


Teairra Mari Releases New Single!
January 5th, 2009
Upon her return into the spot light, Teairra Mari teamed up with Pleasure P formally of the R&B group Pretty Ricky to record the first single, "Hunt for You". Visitors on popular gossip blogs responded favorably after the song was leaked to mediatakeout.com and concreteloop.com. The song is about being in a relationship with a guy who begins changing and the female is on the hunt for the person they fell in love with. The music video for the single was directed by Benny Boom and will be released nationally mid January. The tune is currently available for purchase on iTunes, but MySpace Music users can also add it to their playlist for free. Teairra Mari's album is scheduled to be released spring 09. Teairra Mari has been creeping back into the spotlight performing at Flaunt Magazine's 10 Year Anniversary Party that took place December 18, 2008 in Beverly Hills, Ca. Mari has also been spotted at several Hollywood hot spots.

Teairra enjoyed success when she worked with Jay-Z, in his first collaboration project since becoming president of Def Jam Records, to create "Make Her Feel Good" along with producer Sean Garrett, the lead single from her debut album on Roc-A-Fella/ Def Jam that reached number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the R&B charts. It was heavily played on BET. In 2007 Mari signed a lucrative deal with Fo 'Reel Ent under the wing of Cudda Love (the man responsible for the success of multiplatinum selling artists Mase and Nelly).


India.Arie Set to Drop New Release in February!
December 24th, 2008
SINGER/SONGWRITER: The world renowned award winning singer/songwriter India.Arie debuted in 2001 with her Motown release Acoustic Soul. She followed up in 2002 with her sophomore CD Voyage To India and then in 2006 released her third album, the more personally expressive Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship. She has sold over 7 million copies worldwide and has received numerous awards and nominations including 16 Grammy nominations, 2 Grammy awards, along with awards from BET, NAACP Billboard Music, Radio Music, MTV, VH1 Vogue Fashion, Essence Magazine and others. She has collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Elton John, John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen, Ashley Judd, John Legend and so many more.

PHILANTHROPIST: In between touring and writing music, India.Arie has served as an US Ambassador for UNICEF and has traveled to Africa several times addressing the AIDS crisis. She has used and shared her music to bring awareness to various causes; her single "I am Not My Hair" was the Centerpiece of Lifetime's Award-Winning Public Awareness Campaign, "Stop Breast Cancer for Life" and her song "Beautiful Flower" was used to raise funds for the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls.

ENTREPRENEUR: In June 2008 she launched her own label imprint through Universal Republic called Soulbird Music with her first signing singer/songwriter Anthony David. India.Arie says "SoulBird (which is another name for a butterfly), is meant to evoke the Energy of the music rather than the Style and will represent; music with intelligence and heart, music that moves people in their souls AND their bodies. Music with wings." The cathartic first single from David's new album, "Words," was nominated for a 2009 Grammy award.

UrbanBridgez.com has learned two videos will be available before the CD release, for the singles "Chocolate High" and "Therapy." The CD is Produced by: India.Arie, Novel (produced India.Arie's "Purify Me" for Tyler Perry soundtrack) , Dru Castro, and more

CD in Stores & online February 10th, 2009.

1. Intro - Grains 2. Therapy 3. Psalms 23 (5:21) 4. Chocolate High 5. He Heals Me (5:06) 6. Interlude - Grains 7. Pearls (4:25) 8. River Rise (4:02) 9. Yellow (2:55) 10. Better Way (3:35) 11. Interlude - Grains 12. Long Goodbye (4:06) 13. Ghetto (3:25) 14. The Cure (4:46) 15. Outro - Grains


T.I. Goes to the Top!
December 22nd, 2008
Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist T.I. has put the finishing touch on his incredible 2008 by hitting #1 on the CHR/Top 40 with the blockbuster single, "Live Your Life (Feat. Rihanna)." The track continues the ATL-based superstar's seemingly endless streak of chart-toppers, highlighted by the RIAA platinum certified #1 album, "PAPER TRAIL."

In addition to its success at CHR/Top 40, "Live Your Life" is also currently sitting pretty atop the Rhythmic airplay chart for the fourth consecutive week, followed at #2 by T.I.'s own "Whatever You Like," the RIAA 2x platinum certified first single from "PAPER TRAIL." The latter held the #1 position for nine straight weeks before ceding the top spot to "Live Your Live," giving T.I. sole possession of #1 for 13 consecutive weeks.

Furthermore, a new single, "Dead and Gone (Feat. Justin Timberlake)," has just begun its ascent up the Rhythmic chart, debuting this week at #35 with-a-bullet. A companion video clip is currently in production, with a premiere date to be announced shortly.

"Live Your Life" made history last October, climbing to #1 on Billboard's "Hot 100" from the previous week's ranking at #80 -- the biggest-ever one-week leap to the top. The success of "Live Your Life" shattered the previous record for largest ascent to #1 -- a feat set just six weeks prior by T.I.'s own "Whatever You Like." That track rocketed to #1 from #71 the week of September 6th and remained there until being replaced by "Live Your Life." This remarkable achievement establishes T.I. as the first artist to replace himself at #1 since Usher in 2004.

The first solo chart-topper of T.I.'s remarkable career -- and second overall following "My Love," his Grammy-winning collaboration with Justin Timberlake -- "Whatever You Like" remains T.I.'s biggest selling digital single to date, with over 2.3 million downloads and counting. The track is also the nation's #1 ringtone for the 16th consecutive week.

Not to be outdone, "Live Your Life" -- currently standing strong at #2 on the "Hot 100" -- logged the biggest-ever first-week digital singles sales in history, with sales in excess of 335,000. The platinum certified single's total digital sales are now quickly approaching the 2 million mark.

T.I. -- who was among last year's big Grammy winners -- recently received four Grammy Award nominations, including "Best Rap Album" (for "PAPER TRAIL"), "Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group" and "Best Rap Song" for "Swagga Like Us" by T.I. & Jay-Z (Feat. Kanye West and Lil Wayne), and an additional "Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group" nomination for his featured role on Ludacris' "Wish You Would."

"PAPER TRAIL" made a phenomenal arrival atop the Billboard 200 upon its September release, marking T.I.'s third consecutive #1 chart entry (following 2006's platinum-certified "KING" and 2007's platinum-certified "T.I. VS. T.I.P."). With total first-week sales in excess of 568,000, "PAPER TRAIL" also entered at #1 on a number of additional Billboard charts, including "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums," "Top Rap Albums," and "Top Digital Albums." The album's unparalleled first-week sales success represents a personal best for T.I., as well as Atlantic Records' biggest-ever one-week scan since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking data in 1991.

T.I. also made history with his MySpace page by passing the 2 million friend mark, a new record by a hip-hop artist. The page -- www.myspace.com/trapmuzik -- has seen record-breaking traffic in recent months, with a stunning 92.5 million page views.

T.I. has been profiled in a stunning array of recent national publications, spanning Giant (where he was featured on the cover), XXL, Vibe, Blender, Rolling Stone, People, and King (where he will serve as "Guest Editor" on the upcoming November issue). In addition, "PAPER TRAIL" has drawn some of the most rapturous praise of T.I.'s already acclaimed career. "His best album since 2003's 'TRAP MUSIK,'" declared the New York Times' Jon Caramanica, "largely because it's so serious." "T.I. has managed to craft an album that gives listeners the standout moments they expect," wrote Allhiphop.com. "(The album's) achievements are enough to remind fans why they fell in love with T.I. back in 2003, and keep his tenuous title as 'King of the South' in place for the immediate future." "('PAPER TRAIL') shows a willingness to do something other than coast from hook to hook," noted Pitchfork.com. "The album manages to be a more detailed manuscript of Tip's complexity: An impending incarceration has lit a fire under him, triggering an impulse to challenge himself." "'PAPER TRAIL' starts and finishes strong," hailed USA Today's Steve Jones. "T.I. may be going away for a while, but his music won't."

"PAPER TRAIL" is T.I. at his best -- melding emotive moments like the harrowing "My Life, Your Entertainment (Feat. Usher)" with celebratory anthems such as the cocky "On Top Of The World (Feat. Ludacris and B.o.B.)." In addition to the aforementioned Swizz Beatz, the production roster includes such studio stars as Danja (Timbaland, Madonna, Usher), DJ Toomp (Kanye West, Missy Elliot, Young Jeezy) and Drumma Boy (Paul Wall, Rick Ross, Yung Joc). The result is T.I.'s most potent and important LP to date.

"No Matter What," the first street track and video from "PAPER TRAIL," proved an online blockbuster upon its release earlier this year, earning over one million views at T.I.'s official YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/user/TIvsTIP. In addition, the clip -- directed by Self and James Lopez -- received a nod for "Best Male Video" at this year's MTV Video Music Awards.

"PAPER TRAIL" follows T.I.'s two previous #1 RIAA platinum-certified blockbusters, 2007's "T.I. VS. T.I.P." and 2006's "KING." With an unparalleled track record of hit singles -- including "Top Back," "Big Things Poppin' (Do It)," "Why You Wanna," and the Grammy Award-winning "What You Know" -- T.I. is without question one of hip-hop's greatest stars. In addition to his multiple Grammy Awards, T.I. has been the recipient of a wide variety of honors, including BET Awards, BET Hip-Hop Awards, and Billboard Music Awards.

An accomplished actor as well as a gifted rapper and live performer, T.I. has played acclaimed roles in the major motion pictures "ATL" and "American Gangster." He recently made a cameo appearance on HBO's "Entourage" and will also be starring in the upcoming Screen Gems film, "Bone Deep."

In 2009, T.I. will be tackling television with an inspirational documentary series for MTV. The yet-to-be-titled series will center on the rapper's life on probation in the year leading up to his impending year-long jail sentence. Added to these endeavors is his much-anticipated clothing line Akoo, which arrived in stores this fall.


T-Pain Leads UBG Honors '08 With Eight Nominations!
December 15th, 2008
UrbanBridgez.com, one of the Internet's leading urban music sites, announced the nominees Monday for its Third Annual UBG Honors (formally T M H Honors). Voting will start today December 15th at UrbanBridgez.com and the winners will be announced on January 7th, 2009.

This year marks the third year UrbanBridgez.com has presented UBG Honors to their visitors. Over sixty artists received nominations. They were led by T-Pain who garnered eight nods including Artist of The Year, Favorite Up-Tempo Single of the Year ("Can't Believe") and Producer of The Year. Lil Wayne received six nominations that includes, Favorite Hip-Hop Single of The Year ("Lollipop") & Hip-Hop Album of The Year. Alicia Keys a winner in the past earned five nods this year, while label-mate - newcomer Jazmine Sullivan received four. A complete list of nominees can be found below.

Music fans who log onto UrbanBridgez.com from December 15th, 2008 to January 2nd, 2009, will be able to vote in 22 categories, for their favorite R&B and Hip-Hop artists, as well as for their favorite record label, producer, best video of the year & favorite fansite/entertainment blog. Some of the other unique categories include Most Slept On CD of 2008 & Most Wanted Return in 2009.

Last year over 30,000 people voted. Site visitors may only vote once per category and only one submission per network/IP.

Nominees were chosen from artists whose singles or albums were released from November 2007 to November 2008.

Complete & Final Nominations for UBG Honors '08:

Best R&B Female Artist

Beyonce'
Alicia Keys
Rihanna
Jazmine Sullivan
Keyshia Cole

Best R&B Male Artist

Ne-Yo
Chris Brown
T-Pain
John Legend
Akon

Best R&B Group

Day 26
Danty Kane
Brutha
Mint Condition
I-15

Best Rap Male Artist

Lil Wayne
T.I.
Kanye West
Rick Ross
Common

Best New R&B Artist

J. Holiday
Jennifer Hudson
Jazmine Sullivan
The-Dream
Keri Hilson

Best New Hip Hop Artist

Royal Flush
Flo Rida
Yung Berg
Shawty Lo
2 Pistols

Favorite Up-Tempo Single of The Year

"Sexy Can I" - Ray J feat. Yung Berg
"So Fly" - Slim feat. Yung Joc
"Green Light" - John Legend feat. Andre 3000
"Got Money" - Lil Wayne feat. T-Pain
"Can't Believe" - T-Pain feat. Lil Wayne
Favorite Ballad of The Year

"Never Never Land" - Lyfe
"Take You Down" - Chris Brown
"Like You'll Never See Me Again" - Alicia Keys
"Bed" - J. Holiday

"Heaven Sent" - Keyshia Cole

Favorite R&B Single of The Year

"Need U Bad" - Jazmine Sullivan feat. Missy Elliott
"No One" - Alicia Keys
"Spotlight" - Jennifer Hudson
"With You" - Chris Brown
"Miss Independent" - Ne-Yo

Favorite Hip-Hop Single of The Year

"Sensual Seduction" - Snoop Dogg
"Lollipop" - Lil Wayne feat. Static Major
"Bust It Baby Pt. II" - Plies feat. Ne-Yo
"Flashing Lights" - Kanye West feat. Dwele
"The Business" - Yung Berg feat. Casha

Hottest Collab Single of The Year

"No Air" - Jordan Sparks feat. Chris Brown
"Love In This Club" - Usher feat. Young Jeezy
"Low" - Flo Rida feat. T-Pain
"Until the End of Time" - Justin Timberlake feat. Beyonce'
"Dangerous" - Kardinal Offishall feat. Akon

Most Slept on Album of 2008

"All I Feel" - Ray J
"Discipline" - Janet Jackson
"E-Life" - Mint Condition
"Unexpected" - Michelle Williams
"The Declaration" - Ashanti

Best Return Album of 2008

"The Making of A Man" - Jaheim
"Lessons In Love" - Lloyd
"The Promise" - Deborah Cox
"Helpless Romantic" - Jon B
"Sol-Angel & the Hadley St.Dreams" - Solange

Best Video of The Year

"Go Girl" - Ciara feat. T-Pain
"Out Here Grindin" - DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Akon, Plies, Ace Hood, Lil Boosie & Trick Daddy
"The Way That I Love You" - Ashanti
"If I Were A Boy" - Beyonce'
"Shawty Get Loose" - Lil Mama feat. Chris Brown & T-Pain

Producer Of The Year

Rodney Jerkins
Timbaland
T-Pain
Brian Michael Cox
The-Dream

Label of The Year

Koch
Def Jam/IDJ
Epic/Columbia/Sony Music
Zomba/Jive/LaFace
Atlantic/Bad Boy

R&B Album of The Year

"Fearless" - Jazmine Sullivan
"As I Am" - Alicia Keys
"Exclusive" - Chris Brown
"E=MC2" - Mariah Carey
"Year of The Gentelman" - Ne-Yo

Rap/Hip-Hop Album of The Year

"The Greatest Story Ever Told" - David Banner
"We Global" - DJ Khaled
"Nas" - Nas
"Paper Trail" - T.I
"The Carter III" - Lil Wayne

Best Gospel Artist of The Year

Mary Mary
CeCe Winans
Kirk Franklin
Trin-i-tee 5:7
Marvin Sapp

Most Wanted Return in 2009

Monica
Whitney Houston
R. Kelly
Ciara
Shanice

Artist of The Year

T-Pain
T.I.
Chris Brown
Alicia Keys
Lil Wayne

Favorite Artist Fansite/Urban Ent. Blog

Concrete Loop
(concreteloop.com)

Sandra Rose
(sandrarose.com)

Alicia Keys Online
(alicia-keys.net)

Brandy Source
(brandysource.net)

Janet Xone
(janet-xone.com)

***VOTE NOW***