Xposure July/August Issue

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far. There’s been so many great things that have taken place since the last issue that I want to share with you. First things first, a few weeks ago I had the pleasure of announcing my joint venture with Zinio, LLC who is the largest online distributors of online magazines. It’s truly a great and exciting time for me to add Xposure to their roster which includes O Magazine, Rolling Stone, Esquire and Martha Stewart Living to name a few. I’m confident in my decision to partner with Zinio in making Xposure available to more subscribers and expanding the audience. If you would like to know more information about the joint venture visit xposure365.com to read more about it. Thank you to all of my readers, you all are like family to me and I appreciate the great feedback you send each issue and everyday. I love hearing from you so please continue to send emails my way.

Now on to this issue, I can’t believe all of the incredible talent featured in the pages of this issue. Melanie Fiona was my choice for the cover because she is everything the music industry needs right now in R&B music. She’s a very talented vocalist, writer and performer and I would like to thank Margeuax Rawson, Tiara Hargrave, Tasha Stoute and everyone at The Chambers Group for making Melanie’s cover a reality. Melanie, thank you for the time and candor you gave me for this interview.

I also had the great opportunity to speak to the incomparable legend that is Sergio Mendes who was very gracious and kind. I celebrated with Boney James his 9th number one album Contact as we discussed the milestone and how much he loves music. Ledisi was a treat for me because the whole time of our interview we laughed and giggled about men, relationships and life. Last but never least I spoke to my fellow Atlantan Pill, who I feel is way more talented than what people see right now but you will soon see it.

The Next on Deck features B. Benai who’s voice is amazing and Flya who’s effortlessly fly and a great lyricist. I’ll be making an announcement on how you the reader can be featured in the Next on Deck section soon so be sure to check out xposure365.com at the end of this month for details.

There’s a special section in this issue dedicated to the Essence Music Fest, where you can see most of the photos from the three day event.

For extended photo galleries and video footage visit xposure365.com.

Before I close this entry, I have to thank LCD for the photo on this page of myself and Deniece Williams as well as your patience, friendship, understanding and vision. I appreciate you and I know the best is yet to come from my venture with you and LCD Vision. I would also like to thank Brandi Allen, Glenford Esty, Paula Chevere, Erika Ewing, Terry Harris, Frances Taylor- Calhoun, Cardine Johnson and everyone as Sony Ericsson for their support and encouragement. Special thanks to my family and friends as I continue to move forward with this dream. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. The two year anniversary issue is next so get ready, see you in September! Until next time................................................

Goldyn P. Smith Publisher/Editor in Chief goldyn@xposure365.com

Xposure Credits &Contributors

Gift, 26, of Louisville, Ky YES Ky attended Western Kentucky University majoring in Exercise Science and Broadcast Communications &Journalism. He is by his own account, and admissions of others, one the most diverse people you will ever meet. His ultimate goal is to continue to build his brand and become a global mogul, He enjoys long walks on the beach, playing scrabble with Chuck Norris, volunteering at sheltors and helping to feed the poor. In High School he was voted most likely to contribute stories to Xposure Magazine and selfishly right his own bio. U SEE ME!!

Photos - A Goetz, I Jones, Edelman, T Kaufman, Honey B., Harper Smith, Andrew Southam, Derek Blanks, Yannis Vlamos/GoRunway.com

Xposure Magazine is a bi - monthly magazine published on a bi monthly basis. ISSN - 2158-0421. Copyright 2009-2011.

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Views expressed by writers are not necessarily the views of Xposure Magazine. We welcome and accept unsolicited materials. Materials submitted to Xposure Magazine is the person’s guarantee that submitted items are not in violation of or infringing upon the rights of others and that said materials may be reviewed and subject to critique without any third party consent.

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In This Issue

Essence Music Fest 2011

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Features Pill - 16 Ledisi - 18 Boney James - 22 Melanie Fiona 24

20 Sergio Mendes

14 Fall Couture 2011 Tiffany Suite St. Regis NY

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With only 8 episodes left, We bid farewell to the boys. Series finale starts 7/24/11

Iconoclasts

Next On Deck

I definitely do have a dance background. I danced growing up on teams and in performing arts school but my most memorable and beneficial experiences came from college dancing at Southern University and dancing for the Houston Rockets. I also did some choreography for some groups, stepped and danced in college with my sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc, and even some background and dance crew dancing. From that I was able to get the opportunity to be in the movie Stomp The Yard 2 in 2009. The biggest opportunity though was starting Lady Lux. Both of my group mates danced for the Rockets with me. That’s where we met.

Given this 20/20 vision I have I couldn’t help but notice, that you’re quite easy on the eyes, so are u single? What comforts do you look for in a relationship?

B. Benai

Who Is Mike Jones? Jus kidding. Who is Brittny “B. Benai” Smith? How would you describe yourself as an Artist?

“Back then they didn’t want me, now I’m hot they all on me”. You’ve got me missing Houston now. Seriously though, B.Benai the artist is a true student of R&B. Having a passion for music would be an understatement.

It’s more like an obsession. She’s in love with the art form and the creative process. She’s an artist who thrives on lyrical content, harmony, story telling, and genuiness. She wants to make you feel. She’s sexy yet shy, demanding yet passive, and she’s a triple threat with singing, writing and dancing.

You’ve been apart of singing groups in the past including the group “Lady Lux” which was signed to Matthew Knowles’ label before going solo. How has the transition into being a solo artist been, & are there any comforts of being in a group that you miss?

Lady Lux was a constant in my life for 5 years and I miss my girls dearly.

With being in a group, you make several compromises. You have to be considerate of everyone’s vision and taste. You have to fuse everyone’s thoughts into one and execute. You have to be considerate of feelings, schedules and lifestyles, while being mindful of everyone’s vocal and physical strengths and weaknesses. Those things become struggles. The transition to solo was rough at first.. I was scared, shy, lost even. I missed, and still miss having a girl to my left and right to hold on to, create with, go to events and things three deep, have a sisterly bond, and be able to use so much space on stage. Solo is lonely but liberating.

According to my top notch journalistic research, I see you also have a dance background, what opportunities have you gained from that & how has that opened doors for you?

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Why thank you sir *wink* lol.Yes, I’m single. Music and graduate school consume me! BUT I’m a hopeless romantic. It’s quite sad actually. In a relationship, first a man has to have a relationship with God. It’s pretty much a deal breaker if he doesn’t. I’m very in tune with my religion and faith. I look for support and brutal honesty in a relationship. Even if it may hurt the other at times. It’s a respect thing for me,I need a friendship as well.

If you had your choice to perform on any stage anywhere in the world with any Artist, where & who would it be?

Oh wow. How broad. well, Prince! I love him!! In the states, Madison Square Garden...across the pond, Wembley Stadium.

Now this next question is something I ask to everybody I interview, I feel like I’m doing my part for society in doing so.

Who killed Tupac?

You didn’t know? Tupac is in Puerto Rico...or is it Costa Rica? lol.seriously, i’ll say this.when someone of his caliber is slain in somewhere like Vegas...on fight night.near the strip...at a red light...in public.... somebody knows SOMETHING! What’s next on the horizon for B. Benai music?

I’ll be releasing my EP really soon. Definitely continuing to write and create great music and of course entertaining more show and feature opportunities.

Where can we find out more about you & stay up to date with you and what you have going on? Everyone can go to my website, BBENAIMUSIC.COM, follow me on twitter @BBENAI, add me on Facebook Facebook.com/BrittnySmith , or check me out on my reverb nation page Reverbnation.com/BBENAI. -Gift

Yung Booke also know as Flya is a lyricist in Atlanta making big noise with his single It Might featuring Future. We sat down to discuss his fly society as well as hs highly anticipated mixtape Rise of Capitol Homes.

How It Might became the song he wanted Future on - I was looking around on World Star and came up with the hook. I called my in house producer Win on the Track and we talked about what type of song it should be. He sent the beat and I thought it would be a much better song if Future was on it. I called and told him about it and I sent it before I left for the studio. By the time I got there, he had the hook and his verse done and I told him we would keep his hook.

Music professionally – I was with Doom Squad and everyone was liking the song around school so I started thinking about what I was going to do. I wanted it to be something I liked to do, couldn’t play basketball because I was too short. I like to put words together and decided music was what I wanted to do.

Mixtape – Rise of Capitol Homes, it has a lot of features on it Alley Boy, Future, my squad, Pill and B.o.B may be on the track called Atlanta.

Money Savage and Smash Gang – It’s a group of my really good friends, Smash Gang is my family and so is Money Savage. Smash Gang is an organization of fly shit, kids who like to get money, look fly and like to live the life.

Possible record deal on the table – I’ve been going to a few different meetings to talk about a few deals. I’m focused on being an artist, not really concerned about who is behind me. I feel if I’m destined to blow, I will blow anyway. If I do sign with anybody, it will be a blessing, if not I’ll still be working.

What Yung knows now – It’s more to this than what people think it is. It’s really hard work, its more than what I ever thought it would be. It’s a lot of being in the studio, radio, and out of town performing - its work.

Definition of sound – I would say I’m the voice of my time, my music is uplifting.

Want more Flya – You can hit me on Twitter @Airbourne_flya and on my site yungbooke.com. My online store will be up on the site in the next couple of months.

Yung Booke

The store will include shirts, ringtones, tickets to shows and all my merchandising. I want to get the clothing line going as well, its still in the works in the development stage. It will have clothing for everyone.

What’s next – I’m working on a short film and the mixtape will be released in the next couple of weeks.

Last words – Keep your ears and eyes open, I feel like I’m underrated but when I get your ear you won’t forget it.

Ciao Bella

Fall Favorites

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MAC Cosmetics Make Me Over Line Fall 2011

Haute Plate

Here is the first official photo of Donatella Versace working on her line for H&M. “I am thrilled to be collaborating with H&M and to have the opportunity of reaching their wide audience.

The collection will be quintessential Versace, perfect for H&M and Versace fans everywhere.� According to Wendy Lam at Nitrolicious the women’s line will be round 40 pieces of apparel and 20 acessories. The mens line will be 20 pieces of apparel and 10 pieces of accessories. There will be items for your home as well the line will include beddng, pillows etc. Versace for H&M hits stores in time for the holidays on 11/17.

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25 year old Olivier Rousteing made headlines recently for being named the new creative director for Balmain. Rousteing had been at the house since 2009, he was previously at Cavalli for 5 years. It seems there may have been a change needing to happen at the house due to the previous collections from Christophe Decarnin being dismissed as trashy among other things.

The appointment of the French dynamo will no doubt inspire new creativity at the house. Rousteing’s first collection will be shown for Spring 2012 and we are no doubt excited to see how he starts his new era.

Mattel released the first Grace Kelly Barbie recently with two additional one being released soon. This model is the To Catch a Thief model in one of Princess Grace’’s signature dresses from the film. The next doll in the series is GRACE KELLY TROUSSEAU and last but not least Grace Kelly Bride Gold Label Collection. Prices for 34.95 - 179.95.

The newest women’s watch from Harry Winston offers an 18k rose gold case along with diamonds on the bezel. There are diamonds elegantly placed on the lugs and strategically placed on a few of the hour indicators. Retail value is 20,300.

Haute Plate Fall Couture 2011

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\Dior

Valentino

Valentino

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Valentino

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\Dior

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Armani

Armani

Armani

Gaultier

Gaultier

Gaultier

Valli

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Armani

Gaultier

Valli

Featured

Meaning behind the name - It came from playing football, in one B Team game I showed out. I scored 2 touchdowns, 75 yard kickoff return and they said that dude is the pill. They were saying the ball was my pill so they started calling me pill pill. I started to take the music more seriously in my senior year of high school and cut it short. I said I’m the medicine and the cure for the rap’s cancer.

How he feels being perceived as a new rapper to the public - Its more research for them to do and another page to my testimony honestly. Its lazy people who don’t research who have that opinion of my journey so far. I started out with Killer Mike and Outkast when I was a teenager; I did my solo thing around 2009 and made a whole lot of noise. If people don’t read, they won’t know but it doesn’t bother me honestly. People start to catch on later.

XXL Freshman class cover - I was grinding real hard before I got the deal my first go round and I built a strong foundation as a lyrical character with staying power. XXL came and snatched me up because the mixtapes were very strong; it was a very surreal experience. Its one of those experiences that you won’t ever forget, it was a dream come true.

The last year in retrospect - It’s been unreal actually, for my dreams and goals to become reality - it feels great to know it’s possible.

I’m very happy and excited to be surrounded by the people I’m surrounded by and blessed to accomplish the things I have. I’m blessed to be able to provide some substance to the game; I also have to let people know the b side. Like with the beautification project that displaces families and results in the projects being torn down. I let people know how I felt serving drugs on the corner, I’m glad to be revered as a lyrical cat. I’m blessed to be an influence to other MCs and to the kids. It’s a gift and a curse to have an opinion that counts, I have to be very responsible but it’s a blessing though.

Pill

On being an open book - I wear my heart on my sleeve, I look at myself as a realist. I look at my videos as documentary style where I show you where I’m from and what I was doing. People know I’m here and there’s nothing to hide. There’s a lot of notification of fabrication and I don’t want to be known as one of those artists. I rather let you know I was broke and homeless or my mother was on drugs may she rest in peace. I lived from house to house from 7 years old up until I got a deal or I lived in every project. That’s something I sought out to do, many artists don’t do that. I have the courage to do it and enough balls to tell the truth so people can know the real me and identify with it.

96 Minutes - it’s directed by Amy Lagos and starts Evan Ross and Brittany Snow. I play a character by the name of Roger; it’s based on true events. Evan has one foot in and one foot out when it comes to college life. In 96 minutes a group of friends lives change, me and my group of guys are in a gang and part of the reason. The whole filming process was surreal; I auditioned for the film because my former manager knew someone. They called me and I thought I would be a shoe-in because of it and they gave me the script and told me to learn the lines for the audition. I was nervous, it was a lot of people in the lobby there to read for the part I learned my lines and read for the part.

I met Amy and improvised my lines when needed and they told me they would call me, I thought I probably didn’t get the role because that’s Hollywood talk. The following week, I got an email telling me my call time, when to report to wardrobe and then I realized I had the part.

It was an honor working with everyone, shoutout to Evan Ross and Brittany and Amy - she created a real positive environment to work in.

Amy let me adlib and incorporate myself into the role which was great for me. I want to thank everyone who was a part of the film for giving me the opportunity. Acting was always something I wanted to do; when I was younger I used to do plays and acting. I wanted to pursue it because I felt I would have been selling myself short if I never tried to do it. I’m writing a short film it will be documentary style showing the side of Atlanta I know, showing the impoverished sides as well.

Controversy surrounding his videos being too realistic - I knew coming in that I would get that kind of response from people who were not ready to see that kind of thing because it was a shock to their system. People haven’t seen anything that real since the 80s and 90s, all people show now is cars, money and girls. I wanted to show the real side of Atlanta, its more than Waffle House, strip clubs and big rims, I felt like it was my duty so that’s what I did.

Definition of sound - I’m more of a testimonial style lyricist; I put realness to the beat. I give you some form of gangster shit with a mixture of hip hop as well. I try to give people all aspects and angles; I make the soundtrack to your life.

Maybach Music Group - Me and Ross chopped it up, I met him on the set of the Super High remix video, we exchanged information and the rest is history. I knew I needed that extra push, you see the progression we’ve made since the link up. It’s amazing to have an artist with that type of vision and willing to put other artist in the forefront with him is phenomenal. Self Made to me is one of the best albums of the year. It features a group of guys who are hungry from similar backgrounds; we’re competitive and take our music seriously. I really think it’s a classic, I think it deserves 5 mics in the Source as well as a few awards.

The Medicine- I’m still working on it, everyday experiences give me new songs and I’m trying to put together the best album I can. There are a lot of songs recorded and I’m trying to decipher which ones will go on The Medicine, The Diagnosis and The Epidemic. I have another film I’m working on with CyHi and Alley Boy as well.

Pill wants you to know - Be yourself and don’t be afraid to let it all hang out. I try to let people know what’s going on in my city. I just want to be a real dude, the things people don’t touch on I want to. I want to leave people with a bunch of tokens and life lessons as well. I want people to know I did it for the music, for the true love of the art.

What Pill knows now - I’ve always known you have to sacrifice everything if you really want this. That’s what I did with my first solo project 4180: The Prescription, its one of the things I had to find out the hard way.

Want more Pill? - Go to the website pill4180.com; follow me on Twitter @ Pill4180, Facebook Pill4180 and YouTube Pill4180.

Last words - All kids stay in school, education is key. Rest in peace to my mother.

I was able to sit down with the soulful, sincere, insightful Ledisi to discuss her new album pieces of me in which she says “ It’s my 4th record label album; I’m really excited about it. It’s about being a whole woman.” We had lots to talk about including relationships, loving yourself and valuable lessons she’s learned.

Here’s our conversation……..

Collaboration with Jaheim - Let’s Stay Together was a song I specifically wrote for Jaheim, at one point he couldn’t do it. We tried other people and it didn’t work out, one night I get a call at 3am telling me Jaheim laid his vocals. I really wanted a masculine voice to compliment the song, I was so happy to hear he laid his vocals that I started to cry on the phone. I was so excited and the sound was so perfect, it worked out and I am very pleased. I wanted to do a duet that said yes we go through things but we will never part. I felt people needed to hear that, we want you to work it out. There is a reason couples stay together for a long time, they compromised.

Concept behind Coffee - Everyone kept pushing me to do that song, I was so afraid to do it. It was even more risqué than it is now I had to tone it down. I always loved the track, I thought it was great but I kept thinking maybe it’s for someone else. I am a little sassy and I do know what I want, that’s exactly who I am I love my man like I love my coffee. The women I know sing like that all the time, I realized its okay to celebrate that. It was very risqué and it was a hard song to get me into, trust me. I have to thank Rex for pushing me, I call that my Shug Avery kind of song.

I love the song its very hip hop, people have never heard me that way. I’m looking forward to the response on that one.

So Into You - is a metaphor for how strong love is, like Patron on ice - its real hot and cool at the same time. That’s how powerful it is, I wrote this song because of the Isley Brothers kind of feel to it. The first time I wrote it, it was very corny and Rex told me I had been singing church music for too long. I had to get back into the romance; those songs show the sensual side of me that I never show.

Ledisi embracing her sensual side - On stage, I’m comfortable with it and I forget I do that on stage but to finally have songs that go with it in that way is great. I love that part of me but I never knew I could sing a song in that way. I’m cool with it now even more and its fun. It took me a long time to have that certain confidence; it took a lot of people pushing me to tap fully into it. I wanted to show that side in a nice classy way.

Ledisi

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Right now I’m doing a lot of radio in different cities.

Check me out on Twitter and Facebook and stay tuned on ledisi.com.

What Ledisi knows now - Have faith, love yourself completely. When you love yourself you can express what you want and desire and you can be ok with your fullness wherever you move. Be careful who you allow around you. I’ve had wrong people and things in my space and it had me sleeping on the floor trying to figure out my next move. You can’t please everyone, its not possible; I’ve tried it and been a martyr for it. I’ve learned I have to take care of me first. I didn’t know that years ago, that’s why I can make this type of album.

More info - Twitter @Ledisi and Facebook/Ledisi Last words - Thank you for being there and being supportive. I have so much gratitude honestly, the fans don’t have to be there but they are so thank you.

I had the great opportunity to interview the legendary Sergio Mendes who is celebrating 50 years in the music industry. Our in depth conversation was one of the most memorable interview experiences I’ve had. Take a look at our conversation below……

I have a new album coming out called Celebration to celebrate the last 50 years of my career in the recording industry. It’s a compilation of songs of the most important songs from each album. I also just finished writing music for a move called Rio; I am a producer, songwriter on the soundtrack.

Rio - It’s a really nice movie about Rio de Janeiro my hometown, it is a very nice coincidence to be out at the same time as the 50 year Celebration album.

How it feels to celebrate 50 years - It feels great, I feel I’ve been blessed to still be doing what I love -making music. I’m having more fun today making a record and doing concerts with the same excitement.

Rio Soundtrack - It was the first time I’ve worked on a soundtrack before, it’s very different from making your own record. You have to work with an image that’s there, work with a director and the music has to fit film. The music for this film was very important, Rio is about Brazil and it’s something I’m real familiar with. It was a great experience and totally new for me, it was exciting and just great.

How he was approached to work on the film - The story was told to me through storyboards and you have to make sure the music fits the scene and goes well. The film is set in Rio so we used a lot of percussion, it took about 2 years to complete. It is a wonderful project for me. The young man who wrote the film is from Brazil, it was such a pleasure working with him. He didn’t have to explain too much to me for me to understand, he’s a brilliant young film maker. I hope they do Rio 2, Rio 3 because I really enjoyed working on the movie. I enjoy doing concerts and I am doing all of the jazz festivals in Europe and I hope to record a new album by the end of the year.

What motivates him to keep making music - The joy of playing music for people all over the world and truly enjoying what I do.

It’s still exciting for me to travel all over the world and play music for people who recognize and enjoy it.

Sergio Mendes

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I play music from my heart and I don’t like to label my musical style, I’m very curious and I like to learn which is very exciting for me. My curiosity takes me into really great situations like working with Will.i.Am and the Black Eye Peas.

How the working relationship began with Will.i.Am - He reached out to me and asked me to play on his album Elephunk. He told me he knew about all of my music; it was a great surprise for me to hear. After that I suggested we do something together bridging the Brazilian melodies and the contemporary hip hop together. It was the perfect meeting of people who admire each other.

On working with Stevie Wonder - He is a genius; he is y favorite composer and musician. It was a lucky thing for me to be able to work with him. He wrote a song for me, he lives very close to me which is also good. Stevie is such a unique musician that cannot be compared with anybody in the galaxy.

Celebration the album - I re recorded a few songs like the Brazilian song Chove Chuva with a young Brazilian singer named Ivete Sangalo with a different interpretation of the song. I also re recorded Fool On The Hill which was another big song for me about 40 years ago with a totally different arrangement with Saida Garrett who wrote Man in the Mirror with Michael Jackson. It was an interesting thing to revisit. I’m looking forward to touring this summer and making another record before the end of the year.

Advice for aspiring musicians - Embrace your dreams and stick with it. Keep working hard and stay with your dream. Rehearse, practice and do what you love the most. Stay with your dream and work on it.

Sergio’s last words - I would like to thank them a lot for being so supportive of what I do and being loyal throughout the years. For the young fans like you, I’m so happy to have a new generation of fans who appreciate what I do. I would like to thank you all as well. .

On working with Donnell Jones - He’s one of those cats that I wondered where he was and thought it would be great to reach out to him He is one of the people I admired when I first heard him sing.

Other features on Contact - I have Mario, Heather Headley, and Letoya Luckett who is also on the first single called When I have the Chance. All of my other albums are great but I feel this is the best work so far.

When I had the chance - It’s a song about regret, she didn’t let this guy know about her feelings so it plays into the whole contact theme. I wrote that song with my wife, I really like the song ad was grateful to have Letoya featured. The first time I heard her, she had a single called Torn. I called the radio station to find out who sung the song because I loved her voice so much. Coming from Destiny’s Child she wasn’t the star but she could definitely sing. With Heather Headley, we met on a jazz cruise and I filed her name away as someone I wanted to work with. I thought of her when I wrote the song. My song with her is one of my favorites on the record.

Boney James

Celebrating his 9th number one album, I had the opportunity to speak with Boney James about the new album Contact.

I called the new album Contact because I wanted to make contact with different styles of music. There are a couple of great R&B singers and also there’s a theme of relationships in some of the lyrics. It seemed natural thing to name the album.

Contact reaching number 1 on the charts - There’s nothing like being number one. I put so much into my records and when they reach number one it is gratifying. It’s my ninth number one and it’s been consecutive so I’ll try to beat my record. I love when people are excited about the record.

When I’m working on music, I try to make it not suck (laughs). It takes a lot to get the record to the point where I love it and want other people to hear it. I want to make a record I’m proud of and every song is as great as it can be. Once I’m done and trying to promote the record, at that point I’m focused on how it does. When I’m recording I’m just thinking about making the music.

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How he decided to be a professional musician - Music was always my favorite hobby when I was growing up. In my late teens, I felt the most passionate about music nothing else really interested me.

I thought I would give it a try to see if I could make a living at it. I worked as a sideman backing up other artist for 7 years before I made my first record. After about three or four years delivering pizza and struggling I was able to make a living at being a musician. I’ve been doing this for almost 26 years now.

Boney’s advice to musicians - Have something to say and your own voice. You have to come into this with the right attitude. When I first started I was glad not to be delivering pizzas anymore. I felt successful just to be following my dream. If you keep going at music for the love of it, you can’t really lose. Work hard, do it with sincerity and not just try to get over.

What Boney knows now - The great thing about what I do is, it still feels fresh to me. I try to enjoy the success when it comes and look forward to what I plan to do next. I’m really glad people like the record and I will work really hard to keep doing it.

For all things Boney - Visit my website boneyjames.com Last words - It all starts and ends with the music, put your headphones on and enjoy.

Headliner

She had just wrapped her tour stint on the road for BET’s Music Matters tour with Marsha Ambrosius which toured the country. We sat down to talk about her new project, relationships and more.

What she’s been working on since the last album - I toured with Alicia Keys last summer and has been working on the material for the new album.

New single Gone and Never Coming Back.

Gone and Never Coming Back inspiration - I always try to talk about real things that we all go through. It’s always important for me that people understand they are not going through things alone. The song comes from the experience of losing someone in all forms. Whether it’s losing someone to death or the end of a relationship. For me personally, it’s me saying goodbye to a chapter in my life and to the person I loved who is no longer there. That’s where the emotion comes from it’s the experience of love and loss.

Controversy regarding Wale - I was asked about a song I collaborated on with Wale called Beautiful Bliss and I was asked about the video. I said I’m calling you out Wale to make the video happen.

People love drama so they called it Melanie Fiona Calls out Wale. I couldn’t believe people thought I would have beef with a rapper (laughs), I have other things to do with my life and so do they.

How she got involved with Music Matters - I’ve gotten a lot of love from BET and I am so appreciative. BET invited me to be a part of it and I loved the whole concept of it. It’s important that people understand music matters and that’s what it’s about. I was super excited to go out with Marsha, we support one another and it was really cool.

The MF Life - Is the new album and its what I call a graduation of The Bridge, it’s a more introspective album. I fell in love with wanting to hear my music played loud, like stadium soul where it can fill a large arenas. It’s a more introspective album; I’ve worked with the producers I’ve always wanted to work with. I’m giving people what they wouldn’t expect but they will be happy with it. I feel like I’ve grown a lot musically, sonically and the albums shows a little more of where I’m at in my life. With the title, assume whatever you want to assume of it.

The process of creating the sophomore album - It’s been a lot of fun, nerve wracking and exciting and a really cool process of growing. After I came off of the Alicia Keys tour, I had to get my creative, studio legs back. I tried a lot of new things, explored a lot of options for creativity and it’s what I’ve been doing for the last six months.

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What fans can expect of the album - Expect a bigger sound, great stories, and some collaborations I can’t speak on yet. Expect the MF Life; you never know what may happen.

Possible collaboration with Drake - We’ve spoken about doing something together for a while now for his album and for my album as well. It would really be a dream come true, we’re from the same city and I think people would love to see it. We’re both really busy and we’re going to try and make it happen.

How she adjusted to the USA being from Toronto - There is a huge difference structurally, musically and it is all very different. Fortunately, I have a team who broke me in and helped me with adjusting. It was a huge culture shock for me; you all are way more advanced media than we are. We didn’t grow up with MTV and all of that, our sources were not thrown at us - we had to find it.

What I don’t respect are artist who dress up and things and don’t have the talent to back it up. If all you are is what you wear, that’s cool if that’s what you want to do but don’t call yourself an artist.

Sam Cooke’s musical influence - Sam Cooke is my favorite singer and one of my favorite artists. Sam Cooke’s music was a big part of my childhood because my parents would play his music all the time. To know what he went through and When it comes to Melanie Fiona she is - I hope people will things he did in his short time on earth was a big accomplishment he is an artist I say I played a positive role in this world and positively affected admire for sure. people’s lives. I hope people have respect for me and say I was intelligent, talented young woman and I did my part on this Whenever I feel like singing, I put on Sam Cooke. Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill earth. and Bob Marley are also my musical influences as well. Apparently, when I was on tour with Alicia Keys Whitney Houston came to the concert but I didn’t know How it feels to be compared to the old soul divas - I take it as a huge compliment because I feel voices like that don’t she was there. When I found out I missed her I almost really started crying, I exist anymore to the general public. Gladys and Aretha were couldn’t believe I was that close to meeting her and I missed her. respected in their era and I totally take it as a compliment. I grew up listening to old soul music so to be even remotely classified as The experience of touring with Alicia Keys - It was an amazing experience, she that is quite an honor. is definitely someone I admire and I want to be in that light with what she has accomplished. I want to catch the smallest ray of what she has going on. Her It Kills Me controversy - Guys like the record, the only guys that success is a really beautiful thing, I felt honored and blessed to be part of that tour. I learned so much about success and humility and what it takes to really be hate the record are the ones whose girlfriends love the song and were pissed off. It needed to be talked about, that’s the a legend and have the respect of the people as opposed to the obsession. great thing about music it’s therapeutic. I was talking about the experience of being vulnerable and being in love with someone What Melanie knows now - I wish I would’ve known there was no was to blindly. People should not be afraid to admit that because it’s prepare or any of this. No matter what I tried to do, I had to figure out what real. You can’t appreciate when a good love comes along if you happened and how to move within it. All of this started with my love of music and it’s become a business. There are so many factors that affect that. I feel that’s haven’t been through the bad ones. the one thing people don’t understand, they think you’re a celebrity but don’t More info - My site is under construction right now but you can consider what all it involves. There is no way to prepare; you have to tackle it always find me on Twitter @MelanieFiona. head on. I would rather be doing something I love and going through the rough patches than doing something I’m not passionate about and putting up Last words and advice - Stick to your vision and have a team with a bunch of crap. around you that supports it and live your MF Life. I want to thank my fans for being so supportive of me on this ride. I make Melanie’s love for Lady Gaga - What I love about Lady Gaga is she is rooted in the music for them, I hope it touches you and you are able to real talent, vocal ability and training. People can say whatever they want about celebrate it for a lifetime. Thank you and live your MF life. her clothing and all but underneath it she is really talented and I respect that.

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Currency Matters

He’s been referred to as the big bad wolf by some due to his reputation. He’s also been considered a genius, tyrant, puppet master and business titan. Rupert Murdoch is known as the head of News Corp which includes Fox News and the Fox network.

That was what the public thought of him as – a billionaire and serial entrepreneur who some consider hardly humble.

Murdoch recently made headlines after a whistleblower exposed the ethical violations performed by staff at News of The World. Not too long after the whistleblower came forward, it was determined News of The World should close.

With the closing of the paper and the information from the whistleblower, Murdoch has been called into question. While the firestorm continues to grow, there are concerns about how much Murdoch really knew about these unethical practices.

There have been law enforcement and political figures who have been named and subsequently resigned from their posts due to the controversy. There is now talk about Murdoch being called upon by Congress to answer questions on what Murdoch really knows. Being that he will be under oath here before Congress, it will be interesting to watch. Unfortunately, for the employees who lost their positions it has been a major impact. There’s no way to tell how much of a financial impact if any this will have for Murdoch but it will be interesting to watch how it all unfolds.

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