JumpinJack AJ

Toni Braxton Confesses She Has Lupus By Marcia on Nov 17th 2010 11:55AM Yesterday afternoon at the 8th Annual Lupus Bag Ladies Luncheon in Los Angeles, Grammy Award-winning singer Toni Braxton delivered a startling revelation to a room full of about 600 women and celebrities: In addition to her heart condition, she has Lupus, the autoimmune disease effecting more than 1.5 million Americans. Attendees, who thought the 43-year-old Braxton was only there to receive the Humanitarian Award given by the organization, were stunned when she said: "Take a look, this is what Lupus looks like." The disease, which causes the body's immune system to attack healthy cells and tissue, is potentially deadly. Braxton, who has attended the fundraiser several times over the years, took to her Twitter account (@ToniBraxton) to express her thoughts on the revelation: "Had a great time... A big moment for me. It was a tough decision to come out about it. But it was such a relief!" This isn't the first health condition the star suffers from. Most recently, it was reported that she had a benign tumor removed from her breast shortly after her run on 'Dancing With the Stars.' And in 2008 she was diagnosed as suffering from pericarditis, an inflammation of the heart lining that has left her prone to high blood pressure and heart palpitations. That finding forced her to cancel her show in Las Vegas and several tour dates. Most recently Braxton made headlines when she filed for Bankruptcy, for the second time, citing her inability to pay bills in excess of $50 million.

Who sings that?

My thing is this. With music (of any genre...but especially Hip-Hop) I appreciate music that I can identify with. I usually like artists because I hear their lyrics and think "that's why I'm going thru'" or "this reminds me of when this happened to me." Kanye's personality is immature and kinda disgusting to me. I liked Kanye in the beginning but as he's been successful, he's gotten comfortable. I don't know if he's naturally that way or if fame has changed him. But let's be honest...who things the beats he makes these days are as good as the ones he did from 1998-2005? This is all a matter of opinion but I'm pretty sure most people would agree that his beats were better and more consistent earlier in his career. The reason Fresh Prince, LL Cool J, Heavy D, etc are my favorite emcees is because I can't relate to virtually every song they've done. I like what they stand for in most of their songs and I like the people they are in interviews, in person, etc. People aren't perfect. People make mistakes. DMX bothers me because I think he is one of the dopest street emcees of all time. It pained me to read articles in the past of him getting in trouble. I'll be honest and say I'm not as big of a fan as his as I was in 1997-2000. But what I do like is that he calls himself out on it and is trying to better himself. I feel that he is more caught up in the drama in his life. Kanye is just douche who doesn't know when to shut up. Kanye says and does stupid things all the time. There's a difference between making occasional mistakes and doing stupid stuff all of the time. Granted DMX's past issues are more severe than Kanye's but the differences, ignoring all of their fame and music lets me know that kicking it with DMX for a day would be cool. Hanging out with Kanye all day would be annoying....lol. If Kanye learns how to put a filter on his big mouth and gets rid of his stupid behavior, he wouldn't bother me as much. I feel that if that adjustment was made, his lyrics would be better and if he really focused, he could return to making some of the best beats in Hip-Hop.

I got Blueprint 2.0 a year or 2 ago thinking it would be like Blueprint. I was really disappointed because it had almost no elements of the original? Why would he make a sequel album when the true Hip-Hop sound of the original was mostly replaced with a mainstream sound, mainstream guests, etc. Same with Blueprint 3. I guess it's just a way to get more sales.

RIHANNA - California King Loud (2010) I'm happy with this album. It's a step in the right direction. Hard just wasn't that good. Trying to be all disturbed, explicit, and goth was stupid. Loud has her actually singing again, better lyrics, better subject matter, everything. She put more color into her music. This is more on the level of Good Girl Gone Bad. I still think her 1st 2 albums had a better formula.

G-Unit is dead. It's not 2005/2006 anymore. Nobody from that camp is pumping out hits. Even 50 Cent's career has been sagging. None of them every had much talent in the 1st place. I feel the whole thing irrelevant. I don't follow the Game closely but I've heard a handful of songs that are good and that do have good lyrics. I feel that grown men shouldn't have problems between them. It's childish. But Game actually rejoining G-Unit would be a huge step back for him. Tony Yayo saying all that stuff makes him sound like an angry 13 year old. The whole thing is stupid and Game returning to them is irrelevant. From what I've heard, the music he did after them was alot better than the stuff he did with them.

Neither of the tracks are that crazy. After hearing "The Ripper Strikes Back" and "Hit 'Em Up" no battle/diss tracks have really impressed me. Nas' "Ether" is definitely more solid any diss track Jay-Z has done that I've heard (and I have giving some a listen). Nas as an artist, an emcee, and even a performer beats Jay-Z in every way. I'm not even Nas's biggest fan but I give each of them a listen. The difference is, all of Nas' albums that I've bought, I've bought new. All of the Jay-Z albums I have I bought used and really cheap...lol.

Yeah, I love Invincible. I liked that he returned to more love songs and less pop influence.

I like this. I can't see this as a song from 2007. It's sounds mid-90's to me. The way he sings also reminds me of Dangerous - Blood Is On The Dancefloor. Is this supposed to be one of the 2007 songs?

After what they did to "Hold My Hand" they'd probably doctor it and replace FP with Drake...lol.

I saw this when it was live and taped it back when I was 12!! lol

TRAVIE MCCOY - Need You Lazarus (2010)

I thought the apology was necessary. I mean, he said something stupid. We all occasionally do or say things out of emotion or the moment and often times they aren't the best thing to do/say. It's people who regularly show that they don't have a filter who simply aren't emotionally mature. Kanye usually does and say really dumb stuff and then he follows with a lame apology or statement. After so many stupid things, his apologizes don't hold much weight. To me, he's just an immature fool who only cares about himself and how he feels. He'll continue to say ignorant things like the Bush comment, do stupid things like rush VMA stages, and have outbursts in airports and think that saying "sorry" for this regular like this will make it all better. I just don't respect him as a person. And it's not like is music is dope anymore. His beats aren't really good anymore. His voice is annoying and his lyrics were never very good. His latest single is basically a tribute to himself. I take it as him sayin "yeah, I'm a douche bag and I don't care."

I have no interest in him anymore. As a person he disgusts me too much. I'll give it a listen just 2 be fair but it's hard to like the music of someone you don't respect. I just don't see Kanye bringing "substance."

This is dope. Don't change a thing! Female vocals on the hook would probably be the perfect touch.

Every time I listen 2 it I get angry. Those trendy weak synths annoy the crap outta me. MJ would have never polished the song this way. Don't get me wrong, it's not as bad as how they are doing 2Pac's music or Left Eye's latest album but it's missing the soul.

I annoyed. I just checked YouTube for "Hold My Hand." The original video that was up for years is gone and they have replaced with the version on the album which is polished up. It's not a drastic difference from the original but it's not nearly as good. In the past they have released singles with demo versions. I pray that original version pops up on a single or an Akon release.

STACIE ORRICO - (There's Gotta Be) More To Life (self-titled) (2003) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zESbX277pEA In my opinion, this is one of the greatest songs ever made.

Here's the tracklisting for the album! I'm so happy "Hold My Hand" and "Keep Your Head Up" is on it. I'm so hyped for finally have those songs. "Hold My Hand" has been a personal fav since 2007. The titles look interesting. I just wish 50 Cent wasn't on the album...lol. --------------------------------------------------- MICHAEL is the much anticipated album of newly completed recordings from Michael Jackson. The creative process never stopped for the King of Pop who was always planning for his next album; unbeknownst to many fans around the world Michael Jackson was writing and recording songs continuously everywhere from a friend’s home in New Jersey to studios in Las Vegas and Los Angeles with a small group of handpicked collaborators. Now, through the unique stories that will be told about the songs that comprise MICHAEL, fans will get mind-blowing insight into how this artist worked and a chance to hear the songs he most recently created along with tracks that Michael had a desire to bring to fruition. 1. Hold My Hand (Duet with Akon) 2. Hollywood Tonight 3. Keep Your Head Up 4. (I Like) The Way You Love Me 5. Monster (Featuring 50 Cent) 6. Best Of Joy 7. Breaking News 8. (I Can t Make It) Another Day (Featuring Lenny Kravitz) 9. Behind The Mask 10. Much Too Soon

If The Neptunes are on Willow's album...maybe. We have to keep in mind that sometimes he's recording and we don't hear the songs until a couple years later...or never.

Oh snap! I didn't know this existed. I may have 2 track this down. I was recently given a lesson on auto-tune. Auto-Tune is different from the vocoder. I don't know the difference, but there is one...ha ha. The only other person I liked using it was DeVante from Jodeci.

That Rihanna song is good...it be better with out Drake. C+C MUSIC FACTORY - Do You Wanna Get Funky? Anything Goes (1994) I love that they put this out at a time when everything was going gangsta. C+C forever! R.I.P. David Cole.

Ne-Yo is a great artist. However, I think he's gotten weaker with each album. From what I've heard off the new album he's dipping further into that watered down dance-r-n-b-pop stuff. I want more soul music from him!!

That is exactly what I was talking about when it comes to Hammer having heart. Is that from the insert of Active Duty? I know I've read this before. Either way, none of the current day popular rappers ever promote intelligence or their view on the world beyond their block. They are small-minded, faith-lacking, ignorant, drug and alcohol addicted, immature, materialistic, sex addicts. If they aren't, then maybe their lyrics and actions should reflect something otherwise. I can't support people like that. That doesn't represent me and I'm even against that kinda lifestyle. And as a listener, I'm not gonna let an artist like that represent me.

Yeah, I check this board 2 find out about stuff I'm not into. MC Hammer has always been one of my favorites so I appreciate this post. For someone who isn't into him, this is an opportunity for those who aren't into him but who have an open mind 2 check his music. Sometimes posts like this lead to people finding out about stuff they don't like. Sometimes they aren't into what's being shared. Sometimes it turns into a debate. The difference is, is the topic worth a debate. I think there are many things that make Hammer dope. He's honesty. The fact that the man he is in his music is the man he is in person. The fact that his doesn't fill his music with tasteless topics and bad language. The fact that he can do a serious song and a party song. The fact that he loves Hip-Hop which is why he's still active as an entertainer and why he's still rhyming. You can't say that about a lot of people in Hip-Hop. Having an artist who has heart and qualities like that is certainly more interesting than someone who is tighter on the mic. But that's just me. While we are on the topic, Talib is one of my favorite emcees. He is one of the greatest to ever do it. But I would say overall, I enjoy Hammer's music more and probably listen to it more often overall. Big Pun on the other hand, I was never into him. I didn't find anything to special about his lyrics (not that I'm saying he was bad). Overall, I think some of his lyrics were uninteresting. And clearly some of his lyrics were just that...lyrics (not his life). I didn't like his voice and found it disgusting to hear him inhale between lines.