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Go Mariah!

In the states, there's a lot of hype for the UK's own Leona Lewis putting her up against Mariah Carey - people are debating who is better. Well, we've had Leona for a while so as a quick poll: Leona's new one or this one? YOU decide!!

The long awaited video for American Boy feat Kanye has hit the net:

One simple question - and I want YOUR answer:
Will Estelle break through with this record?

Greetings from the set of Trexx and Flipside - currently filming up here in Manchester. In case you missed this blog post, it's basically a brand new ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three sitcom that features me as Trexx and former Dream Team actor David Ajala as Flipside. The show follows Trexx and Flipside as they try to become the next big thing in HipHop but things don't necessarily go their way especially when their manager Mr Brilliance (played by the comedy genius that is Rich Fulcher) simply hasn't got a clue. Luckily, his assistant Ollie (played by Ashley Madekwe) knows what she's doing and their friend Clinton (played by Marcel McCalla) always tries to help but will their nemesis, the highly successful gangsta emcee B-Ice (played by Tyronne Lewis) and his 'pitbull in a skirt' other half Chinaza (played by Emi Wokama) and his bodyguard Tiny (played by Andrew 'Tiny Iron' Harrison) halt them in their tracks?

You'll be able to see it all when it's on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three in late spring/early summer (one of the big bosses on the show, reckons June or July will be our initial transmission date) but in case you haven't noticed, whenever I can, I've been uploading behind the scenes photos to

Monday marks the start of Week 4 of filming and so far we've managed to complete all of our outdoor location scenes which included filming dressed in nothing but long johns (for me) and string vest in boxers (for David) in Manchester's China Town and Deansgate areas. Being that they're just your normal average streets, seeing 2 black dudes walking around in underwear and a camera crew at night can draw a crowd. Big shout to those girls who thought my co-star David was Lemar!

I'll bring you more stuff as I can, and who knows, maybe even some videos will surface... But I didn't tell you that!

Big shouts to Ashley Madekwe aka Ollie in the forthcoming ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three comedy extravaganza that is Trexx And Flipside for putting me up on this. My US cousins - sorry I'm very late on this one. If you haven't seen it, a little bit of a Friday funny.

I introduce Reh Dogg and his song "Why Must I Cry"

Someone PLEASE tell me this isn't real. PLEASE tell me this is a character from an up and coming US comedian. PLEASE??

Them pesky Americans will sample anything these days! Here's up and coming 21 year old artist from Pittsburgh with his new big tune called 'Say Yeah' which samples early naughties trance pop hit 'Better off Alone' by Alice Deejay. Now, Wiz has been building his buzz for a while now and definitely has got skills but everything about this record, I should hate.Problem is, I actually quite like it... Take a look at the video:

Am I losing it or is this record a hit - even with the mozzarella and brie sample? Will it be big in the UK if it gets released over here?

The most requested, most reloaded, hypest tune on the block at the moment - Wiley's "Wearing My Rolex" has been signed by Atlantic records. If you haven't heard it yet, first off, where have you been? Here's a ghetto homemade photos/Target on 1Xtra radio rip video someone's made and buss up on YouTube:

I think it's got the potential to be a national chart top 10 record and am glad that a major label is backing it - I was so hyped by it, I made sure that Annie Mac, Zane Lowe and Pete Tong had a copy and they've all jumped on board.

UPDATE - For those requesting the info, it's available to download from 7th April and the CD goes on general release from 5th May.

What do you think? Fire fi di masses or should Wiley stick to standard grime?

No, it's not the name of Common's next album! And if you think I'm talking about the DJ, please and edumacate yourself before reading on! After months of speculation, everyone's favourite bald chicago conscious rapper has verbally confirmed to MTV that he has signed on to play superhero The Green Lantern in the recently postponed (because of that Amercian Writer's strike) Justice League of America filum which is due to start filming in Australia soon.

To me, it's a bit of a weird casting - although after seeing his performance in Amercian Gangster (where's the DVD man? Surely we should have it by now!!) and hearing that he steals the show in the forthcoming Keanu Reeves & Forest Whittaker film 'Street Kings', I'm interested to see how this pans out. Apparently rumors around Hollywood were that Common was always the leading candidate but that Tyrese was in the running as well - well sorry Black Ty fans but after Tyrese's terrible attempt at rapping a couple of years ago, I'm really glad that Common got it!

According to , the film's not coming out until 2010 but when it hits, think you'll be checking this? Or will you be boycotting it because you're like my friend Dean who think's its about as ridiculous a casting as Chris Rock playing Spider Man?

We're doing overnight shoots on Trexx and Flipside this week so I'm trying to stay awake until 5am so I can set a decent sleep pattern which also means I can not only listen again to the brilliant Africa Cup of Nations Final 1Xtra Special (make Robbo work yes!) but I can also be the first on the 1Xtra site to bring you the (relevant) winners from the Grammy Awards 2008.

Now, this has all been garnered from the internet. For some reason, TV companies in the UK seem to think that we aren't interested in what is arguably the most important music awards in the world so I can't tell you about any performance highlights, red carpet gossip or who wore what. I'm sure if you want to know that, then you'll already know to be tuned in to the E! channel for the next 2 weeks or will be rushing down to the shops for your copy of next week's Heat/Hot/Grazia/Hello/Goodbye/OK/Cheers/Celebguttertrash or whichever one you tend to read (they're all the same to me - unless one wants to offer me a deal for my wedding next year...!)

So, onto the winners and I'm pretty happy that 2008 seems to be Kanye, Chaka Khan and Mark Ronson's year (of course Amy Winehouse too, but let's focus on Mark instead!). Kanye has managed to win 4 grammies: Best Rap Album for Graduation; Best Solo Rap Performance for the record that just won't go away - Stronger; Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for Southside with Common from Finding Forever and Best Rap Song for Good Life). I can't wait to see his acceptance speeches!

**UPDATE - Probably before you even get to read this post, I've found Kanye's acceptance speech for Best Rap Album. You HAVE to love the internet...**

Onto Mark Ronson - now, not only has he been named Producer of the Year (Non Classical) but also his work on Amy Winehouse's Back To Black album has earned 4 Grammy awards - one for Best Pop Vocal album, 3 for the big tune Rehab which was named Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Record Of The Year AND Song Of The Year. While my feelings are mixed about Amy winning so much on account of reports that it's because she's not coping very well with fame which has led to her well publicised troubles (PLEASE don't destroy yourself girl), Mark really deserves the accolades. While he may not have had to struggle, he's been on the grind for years with various projects and when I met him in New York, he seems a really sound dude. Well done mate!

And finally, the legendary 'Woman of Fire' got her dues in '08

Chaka & Zena from the 1Xtra Breakfast Show

The criminally under-rated album 'Funk This' by Chaka was named Best R&B Album and her duet with Mary J Blige 'Disrespectful' won Best R&B Performance by a Duo of Group with Vocals (aka Best R&B duet!). Notice anything the 3 big winners had in common? Yup, they've all done something with 1Xtra over the last 12 months. I'm not saying that it was that alone that won them their grammies (and I'm sure Kanye would have something to say to me if I did say that!) but other artists, TAKE NOTE!!

Other notable winners include:
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: "What Goes Around...Comes Around," Justin Timberlake.
Best R&B Song: "No One," Dirty Harry, Kerry Brothers & Alicia Keys, songwriters (Alicia Keys).
Best Contemporary R&B Album: "Because of You," Ne-Yo.
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: "Future Baby Mama," Prince.
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: "In My Songs," Gerald Levert.
Best Urban/Alternative Performance: "Daydreamin'," Lupe Fiasco, featuring Jill Scott.
Best Dance Recording: "LoveStoned/I Think She Knows," Justin Timberlake, Nate (Danja) Hills, Timbaland & Justin Timberlake, producers; Jimmy Douglass & Timbaland, mixers.
Best Reggae: "Mind Control," Stephen Marley

What do you reckon though? Did the right people win or would you have gone for different winners if you were in charge?

While you think, click below and check out Kanye's performance from the Grammy's of Stronger (with Daft Punk) and Hey Mama 2008.

Read the rest of this entry

Missy Elliott is currently running a competition on her website to allow her fans to choose the title of her next album which is due out in May. The prize winner will recieve their name in the credits of the album and a $500 gift pack from Missy's collection for Adidas.

According to the video on her website, she wants something hot, creative and original for the title. Now, my suggestion is Encona as I can't think of anything hotter than their West Indian Hot Pepper Sauce. As us English can't enter (booo!) what are your suggestions?

Remember - hot, creative and original. And don't forget, you're not entering any kind of competition by replying here, it's just for fun!

Big shouts to - he put me up on this via his myspace blog. Everyone's favourite TV car presenter (or at least he was mine until I read this) Jeremy Clarkson has a column in the Sunday Times and regularly rants about whatever he fancies each week. Every now and then, these columns are collated into a book that usually becomes a best seller - well, I wonder if last week's column will make it into his next book.

Blatantly peeved that the Arts Council has pulled their funding for his local theatre, Jeremy's rant, rather than actually pointing out why his local theatre deserves cash; takes quite a Jade Goody-esque racial turn.

Choice quotes include:

it seems that to get funding these days what you’ve got to be is black or mad or preferably both.

The council spends nearly half a billion pounds a year and, so far as I can tell, in 2007 most of that was given to Benjamin Zephaniah and others in exchange for some ditties about how awful the slave trade was and how everyone in Britain ought to commit suicide

It seems there was some money left over to send a bunch of kids from Calderdale to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which is a field full of what look like big bronze sheep droppings. It’s not my cup of tea but no matter – the droppings were sculpted by Henry Moore, so that sounds fine. Sadly no. Because afterwards the kids were taught about rap music and how to graffiti a wall. That has absolutely nothing to do with the arts at all. It’d be like teaching kung fu at a flower-arranging class.

Have a read of the full article

Guess Jezza won't be watching 'Trexx and Flipside' then...

Of course it's ignorant (that's what Clarkson is famous for) but is this Imus standard ignorance?
Should Clarkson be apologising?
Should Ronnie Herel force him in to 1Xtra towers for a special 'Basement' to make amends?

If you missed any of 1Xtra's Bob Marley Day coverage, check it out on the 1Xtra main page but to compliment it, here's my favourite Bob song.

Greetings from the set of Trexx and Flipside! 4th day of filming today and all's going well - although I forgot about the 12 hour days when it comes to filming...and I'm not an early morning person! Everything we've filmed so far is getting great responses from the big bosses who have seen it so we must be doing good - so far I've been covered in talc, been a tool, groped by a hen party and hit by a granny. You'd better watch it when it's on!

Looks like the sitcom flex is becoming popular though. Fresh from 3 series of car crash television that is Flavor Of Love, former Public Enemy hypeman Flava Flav has been given his own sitcom called 'Under One Roof'. According to - the show will focus on Flav, who plays an ex-con, and his relationship with his rich, conservative brother, played by (who you'll know if you watch Trouble TV's One On One) after they become roommates.

Call me cynical but if you make Flav's character a young streetwise man and the Kelly's character his rich conservative uncle and his family, isn't it just Fresh Prince? Will you be watching it if it comes over here?

If you are a , you probably already know that I'm going to be returning to television this year, with a starring role in ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three's new comedy show 'Trexx and Flipside' playing the leading role of Trexx.

I started filming yesterday - the scripts are hilarious and the set ups are even funnier! Wanna know what it's about? Well, the official ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ press release says:

A multi-platform sitcom about hip hop and urban poetry. Trexx and Flipside are wannabe hip-hop stars but their music label – Wu Hah Records - is run by Mr Brilliance who is more in tune with crooning than rap. Fortunately, his so-called assistant, Ollie, knows what she is doing and loves the boys' work. But even she worries that their enthusiasm is doing more harm than good – when they crashed the British Rap Awards (Bras) in a borrowed strip limo shared with a hen party, for instance. And, when it comes to using a little muscle, the hip-hop world is inhabited by the uninhibited, and gangsta rapper B-Ice has sworn to keep the boys exactly where he put them – in the gutter. Pitted against their rap rivals and backed by a no-hoper of a manager, will Trexx and Flipside ever make it?

Further details about Trexx & Flipside will be revealed as soon as they let me but you'll be able to watch the show come June/July on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three and my lovely family at 1Xtra are allowing me to take that time needed to be in sunny Manchester to film the program...SO I'm going to be taking a few weeks break from my radio show.

Between 4th Feb and 17th March Seani B and DJ Target will be taking it in turns to look after you weekdays (Targeeza doing the do this week) on 1Xtra but I'll be checking in at every chance I get and of course will still be blogging right here about everything that you've come to expect from this blog with a few extra added behind the scenes bits (if I can manage to sneak my camera in during filming)

It will be just a break (you don't think I'd give up my dream job on radio that easily do you?!!) so if you're one of those people who sends me music, keep on sending it but above all, make sure you keep it locked to 1Xtra!