I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and is ready to work.
In this installment, we will be talking to Houdini artists. I call them Houdini artists because they have some success, disappear and return. One minute an act is hot and the next everyone is like “Whatever happened to…?” The music industry only has room for one top performer in each category and all runner-ups must wait their turn. Sometimes, it takes two, three, maybe four albums for an artist to become a household name and many times an artist spends years trying to garner a major label deal only to have their album quietly released and their career over before it started. I had the opportunity to speak to Olivia and Brutha. We analyzed their careers, successes, where they are now. I will try to put it into perspective. Sit back and enjoy.
Brutha: Singers turned Reality Stars
In the fall of 2008, Cheyenne “Papa” Harrell, Anthony Harrell, Jacob Harrell, Jared Overton and Grady Harrell III, better known as Brutha was on top of the world. They had a hit TV show called Brothers to Brutha on BET, two hit singles, and a top 15 album. There was even a rumor of Brutha being invited to sing at President Obama’s inauguration after he heard their acapellas on Youtube. There wasn’t one person who did not watch their show or didn’t know who Brutha was. I even had their first single, “Can’t hear the music” on my iPod.
Less than a year later, Brutha is but forgotten. Although it is unclear whether the hit show was cancelled or voluntarily ended by the group, Brutha made it clear that they were not focused on their career as reality superstars.
“We have a lot great things happening we have a new album called Vacancy featuring R. Kelly, Twister, Teddy Riley, and Rick Ross. That’s what we’re concentrating on. There could be a TV situation in the future but we’re really focusing on our music,” said Anthony.
On September 4,Brutha released their sophomore album on Def Jam, called Vacancy, but the album made little splash. I have yet to hear anything from the album and I’m an avid music fan.
What happened to Brutha?
If I had to make an educated guess, I would say that Brothers to Brutha was cancelled by BET because only a fool would give up a forum for their music. Although the drama-filled reality show format launched Keyshia Cole’s career, it doesn’t work for every artist. I once heard Kim Kardashian describe her TV show, Keeping with up the Kardashians as a thirty-minute infomercial for any business venture she has. Maybe Brutha should take the same approach. If I was Brutha, I would try to get another reality show or try to get the BET show renewed ASAP because their new album is not going anywhere.
Olivia: The First Lady
If we know one thing about 50 Cent, it’s that he’s not afraid to fire his artists. Former G-Unit artists include Young Buck, The Game (we all know what happened with that one), Mase - no comment, Mobb Deep, and Olivia. Let’s face it; although Olivia has been on several different records, she has never been a big star. She was the first artist signed to J Records in 2000, but we know Alicia Keys is the biggest star on the label. After being released by the label in 2004, she signed with G-Unit records and had a number one record called “Candy Shop” featuring 50 Cent. But after two stalled singles and a shelved album, Olivia and G-unit parted ways in 2008. When I spoke to Olivia in September, she was signed with Universal Records and preparing to release a new album in February of 2010 featuring Missy Elliott, Ne-Yo, Drake, and Bryan Michael Cox. She will be in a new movie which co-stars Kelita Smith (The Bernie Mac Show).When asked what her fans can expect from her new album, Olivia had this to say, “they can expect more R&B. [I Think] people kind of got confused because I was with G-Unit so they didn’t know which way I was going to go. When you’re with a group, you have to adapt to what you’re in. Now you’ll get the straight R&B and the straight singing with the band behind me.”
What happened, or keeps happening, to Olivia?
I hate to say it, but maybe Olivia is not a star. She’s a nice person and has great energy but after two major label deals and very little success, maybe it’s time to do something else. Don’t get mad at me, I’m just saying that not everyone is a star. There are very few Beyonces, Rihannas, and Alicia Keys in the industry. Maybe I’m wrong and it’s just not Olivia’s season. Only time will tell.
The Rundown: The Season of Talk Shows
Every season there is a trend in television. One year it was four female friends trying to navigate their lives in a big city, the next year it’s ensemble shows. Well this year, it seems that every network has approved a new late night talk show. I’m not a night owl but because of my curiosity, I decided to watch, or DVR, each of the shows to give you an accurate description of them and my personal grade. I thought it may be fitting because a few, or all of these shows, may do a disappearing act on you.
George Lopez Lopez Tonight: George Lopez is one of the biggest Hispanic stars in the world with the success of several movies and the George Lopez Show, but where this show leaves him has yet to be determined. Lopez is a very good comedian but when it comes to interviewing his guests, he is very awkward, as if he’s waiting for them to finish answering so he can be a comedian again. The show can be a success if he learns the art of interviewing. Grade: C-
Wanda Sykes The Wanda Sykes Show: I don’t know what to say about this show. I recorded one episode and I have yet to watch all of it. It is very awkward watching her laugh at her own jokes before she even gets the punch line out. Sykes is not interviewing anyone, so that lessens the pain of this show. I’m not sure if she’ll have a second season or a complete full season. Grade: D
Wendy Williams The Wendy Williams Show: Out of all four shows, this is my favorite. I first learned about Williams during my visits to Northern New Jersey, where I would listen to her radio show. I absolutely loved her show. My Dad said it was smut, but I didn’t care because my radio was still on 107.5 every day at 2 p.m. Whether or not it was scandal that catapulted Wendy into the television universe, she needs to thank someone because the talk show is a natural fit for her. My favorite part of the show is Ask Wendy and Hot Topics. Grade: A
Mo’Nique The Mo’Nique Show: I don’t know how I feel about this one but I know that I agree with Tom Joyner when he said that Mo’Nique needs to stop the yelling. Mo’Nique spends so much time trying to be inspirational and forcing a connection with her guests that it seems fake to me. Despite the questionable parts of her show, I still support Mo’Nique because we’re from the same area in Baltimore County and her show is actually bearable to watch. If she gets a second season, I hope she learns from the mistakes of her first season because this show could go either way. Grade: B
Side Eyes/Blank Stares of the week:
**People who park Navigators in front of the projects: The speaker at my graduation told us “never park a Lexus in front of an apartment building unless you’re coming to collect the rent.” I guess he didn’t think about people who park navigators in front of project buildings. All I’m saying is, if you’re parking a $60,000 car in front of a building that is marked “property of Baltimore city” something is very wrong. Don’t be mad when your car is stripped or missing.
**Michael Jackson DNA perfume/cologne: Am I the only one hearing the cash register going off? In this fragrance, DNA from Michael’s hair will be used to create his fragrance. Who approved this? Also, I heard he was bald so I’m curious as to where the hair came from. Whoever is approving all of these products knows in their heart they are wrong. They need to stop.
Stupid Rappers: They get a confused look because I don’t understand why some people can’t leave the hood life behind them. We have multi-million dollar rappers going back to jail because of something stupid. T.I. is in jail because of weapon charges. Lil’ Wayne is going to jail for an illegal handgun. Lil’ Boosie is in jail for violating parole, and Gucci Mane is going back to jail for violating his parole. I just don’t understand the weapon charges. These men pay security guards a ridiculous salary to protect them, so why not let these men do their jobs and carry the guns, legally of course. I also don’t understand the parole violations, then the accusation that it isn’t fair. Just for the record, you don’t have to go back to jail. If I was making millions of dollars, I would act so right that it would be sickening. But I’m a girl from the county, what do I know about being hood?
In the fall of 2008, Cheyenne “Papa” Harrell, Anthony Harrell, Jacob Harrell, Jared Overton and Grady Harrell III, better known as Brutha was on top of the world. They had a hit TV show called Brothers to Brutha on BET, two hit singles, and a top 15 album. There was even a rumor of Brutha being invited to sing at President Obama’s inauguration after he heard their acapellas on Youtube. There wasn’t one person who did not watch their show or didn’t know who Brutha was. I even had their first single, “Can’t hear the music” on my iPod. 
If we know one thing about 50 Cent, it’s that he’s not afraid to fire his artists. Former G-Unit artists include Young Buck, The Game (we all know what happened with that one), Mase - no comment, Mobb Deep, and Olivia. Let’s face it; although Olivia has been on several different records, she has never been a big star. She was the first artist signed to J Records in 2000, but we know Alicia Keys is the biggest star on the label. After being released by the label in 2004, she signed with G-Unit records and had a number one record called “Candy Shop” featuring 50 Cent. But after two stalled singles and a shelved album, Olivia and G-unit parted ways in 2008. When I spoke to Olivia in September, she was signed with Universal Records and preparing to release a new album in February of 2010 featuring Missy Elliott, Ne-Yo, Drake, and Bryan Michael Cox. She will be in a new movie which co-stars Kelita Smith (The Bernie Mac Show).When asked what her fans can expect from her new album, Olivia had this to say, “they can expect more R&B. [I Think] people kind of got confused because I was with G-Unit so they didn’t know which way I was going to go. When you’re with a group, you have to adapt to what you’re in. Now you’ll get the straight R&B and the straight singing with the band behind me.”
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