http://www.mail.com/people/62540-nas.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.28/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/people/62540-nas.html http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1971858-bennett-belafonte-hudson-winehouse-gala.html NEW YORK (AP) — Tony Bennett doesn't think Amy Winehouse's life was tragic. He believes the singer who died at age 27 lived a complete life because she was able to achieve her goal: becoming a respected musician. "Her dream was to become famous and a beautiful singer and she accomplished that," he said Thursday night at the first Amy Winehouse Foundation ... Fri, 22 Mar 2013 23:33:27 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1971858-bennett-belafonte-hudson-winehouse-gala.html 2013-03-22T23:33:27Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1932912-kennedy-center-to-host-hip-hop-festival-2014.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Hip-hop artists including rappers Nas and Somalia-born K'naan will take center stage in an unexpected place next year, highlighting their generation and art form alongside opera, ballet and theater at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The center, a memorial to President John F. Kennedy, announced Tuesday that its 2013-2014 seas... Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:56:10 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1932912-kennedy-center-to-host-hip-hop-festival-2014.html 2013-03-05T16:56:10Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1883990-innovative-jazz-trumpeter-donald-byrd-dies-80.html DOVER, Del. (AP) — Jazz musician Donald Byrd, a leading hard-bop trumpeter of the 1950s who collaborated on dozens of albums with top artists of his time and later enjoyed commercial success with hit jazz-funk fusion records such as "Black Byrd," has died. He was 80. He died Feb. 4 in Delaware, according to Haley Funeral Directors in the Detroit suburb of... Tue, 12 Feb 2013 05:12:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1883990-innovative-jazz-trumpeter-donald-byrd-dies-80.html 2013-02-12T05:12:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1882220-bits-its-after-party-time-grammys.html Show Bits brings you the 55th annual Grammy Awards through the eyes of Associated Press journalists. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item. AFTER THE GRAMMYS? INDIA! For the Grammy Awards official after-party, celebrants went to India. Actually, they just w... Mon, 11 Feb 2013 08:16:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1882220-bits-its-after-party-time-grammys.html 2013-02-11T08:16:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1880240-winehouse-producer-salaam-remi-aims-grammy.html NEW YORK (AP) — Salaam Remi has been producing music for more than 20 years, but he says he's not mad that he's just earning the top producer nomination at the Grammy Awards. Remi, best known for producing for Amy Winehouse, Nas and the Fugees, is nominated for non-classical producer of the year at Sunday's ceremony. "If I never produce another record aga... Sat, 09 Feb 2013 17:35:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1880240-winehouse-producer-salaam-remi-aims-grammy.html 2013-02-09T17:35:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1870304-grammy-predictions-fun-frank-ocean-black-keys.html NEW YORK (AP) — Adele dominated last year's Grammy Awards, but this year there isn't a clear winner in sight. That's because a slew of acts are up for top prizes, from fun. to Frank Ocean to Mumford & Sons. Those performers are nominated for six trophies, as are Kanye West, Jay-Z and Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. We here at The Assoc... Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:47:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1870304-grammy-predictions-fun-frank-ocean-black-keys.html 2013-02-05T17:47:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1863704-angelou-celebrates-black-history-with-oprah.html WASHINGTON (AP) — In the midst of talking black history with Grammy-winning singer Alicia Keys, Maya Angelou breaks out singing a hymn a cappella. The acclaimed poet and author wants to show Keys, a New Yorker, what "lining out," call-and-response singing that is popular in black churches down South, sounds like. That teaching moment is one of many during... Sat, 02 Feb 2013 07:39:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1863704-angelou-celebrates-black-history-with-oprah.html 2013-02-02T07:39:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1824558-adorned-grammys-miguel-breakthrough.html NEW YORK (AP) — When record executive Mark Pitts heard "Sure Thing," a song Miguel wrote for possible inclusion on an album by Usher, Pitts felt there was something special about the young songwriter. Then he heard "Quickie," another song from Miguel, and Pitts knew he had to meet the man behind these infectious R&B jams. "He came and performed and just h... Wed, 16 Jan 2013 14:16:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1824558-adorned-grammys-miguel-breakthrough.html 2013-01-16T14:16:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1809458-qa-with-4-nods-rapper-nas-aims-grammy-gold.html NEW YORK (AP) — When a teenage Nas opted out of street hustling to chase his musical dream, those around him found it amusing. "When I chose to get in rap, my friends chose to do other things and not all great things. They chose to be in the streets and kind of laughed at me in a way about taking rap so seriously," said the rapper, who hails from the New ... Wed, 09 Jan 2013 19:24:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1809458-qa-with-4-nods-rapper-nas-aims-grammy-gold.html 2013-01-09T19:24:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1782452-ap-music-writers-top-10-albums-year.html Mesfin Fekadu's picks: 1. Nas, "Life is Good": "I am a graphic classic song composer," Nas raps on the intro to his latest album. And he's right. You may disagree, but Nas is the best rapper alive, and with "Life is Good," he's got the year's top album, regardless of genre. On "Life," he's spitting rhymes about his ex-wife, Kelis — like the soulful "Bye B... Fri, 21 Dec 2012 20:11:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1782452-ap-music-writers-top-10-albums-year.html 2012-12-21T20:11:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/celebrity/1747430-individuality-takes-center-stage-grammys.html Fun. helped break up the sound of dance and electronic music on Top 40 radio with its edgy pop-rock grooves. Frank Ocean made a bold statement in R&B — with an announcement about his sexuality and with his critically revered, multi-genre album, "channel ORANGE." And Mumford & Sons continued to bring its folk-rock swag and style to the Billboard charts with its sophomore albu... Thu, 06 Dec 2012 20:02:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/celebrity/1747430-individuality-takes-center-stage-grammys.html 2012-12-06T20:02:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/celebrity/1747140-nominees-top-categories-grammy-awards.html NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nominees announced Wednesday in top categories for the 55th annual Grammy Awards: Record of the Year: "Lonely Boy," The Black Keys; "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," Kelly Clarkson; "We Are Young," fun. featuring Janelle Monae; "Somebody That I Used To Know," Gotye Featuring Kimbra; "Thinkin Bout You," Frank Ocean; "We Are Never ... Thu, 06 Dec 2012 03:06:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/celebrity/1747140-nominees-top-categories-grammy-awards.html 2012-12-06T03:06:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/celebrity/1731578-swizz-beatz-im-releasing-singles-albums.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Producer-rapper Swizz Beatz says he wants to release a series of singles — or "memorable moments" — instead of a follow-up album to 2007's "One Man Band Man." With the growing trend of top pop acts selling millions of singles, but falling flat in album sales, Beatz said releasing songs is the best route for him as a known artist. "I thin... Thu, 29 Nov 2012 17:24:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/celebrity/1731578-swizz-beatz-im-releasing-singles-albums.html 2012-11-29T17:24:00Z