Tamar Braxton performs Gladys Knight Tribute on Soul Train 2011
I remember the first time I met the Braxton Sisters, the singing siblings of superstar Toni Braxton. The chance meeting occurred in a hotel suite in Charlotte, NC in 1996. I was there to shoot a music conference for VIBE magazine, and I bumped into LA Reid’s brother, Bryant Reid, in the hotel lobby.
At the time Bryant was managing the Braxton Sisters, so he paid me to shoot a party he was having for the girls in his suite that night.
The picture on the right is one that I took in 1996. At the time, the group consisted of Towanda, left, and teenagers Tamar, 19, center, and Trina, 17. They had just released an album, titled So Many Ways, on Atlantic Records.
Last night, BET aired Soul Train Awards 2011 which was pre-taped in Atlanta on Nov. 17. Tamar was the highlight of the night as she sang a rousing tribute to Soul legend Gladys Knight, with Dave Hollister, Kenny Lattimore and Freddie Jackson backing Tamar up as the honorary Pips for the night.
Tamar’s performance surprised and electrified social networking sites like Twitter.com, where users compared her sultry vocals to her sister Toni Braxton, and even Beyonce!
Below are just a few of the thousands of positive tweets about Tamar’s performance from Twitter.com! By the way, Tamar’s sisters, Towanda and Trina Braxton will chat live with Sandrarose.com readers via Ustream right here on Wednesday! So check back for that.
Watch Tamar’s performance after the break!
Rare footage of 2Pac confronting a future thug
Here is rare footage of late rapper Tupac Shakur confronting a cute baby on the streets of New York during an interview with BET’s Rap City.
At one point a white man bends down to kiss the boy and Tupac’s crew erupts with laughter. “Tell him back off! You ain’t no punk! This yo’ block” yells Tupac.
Heavy D was on weight loss program when he died
According to published reports, rapper Heavy D was on a weight loss program when he died suddenly last week at the age of 44.
The rapper had begun a weight loss plan and kept a regular workout regime, according to EURweb.com.
Tony Wisniewski, the rapper’s trainer at the Ultra Body Fitness gym in Los Angeles, set Heavy up on a fitness plan three months before his death. Wisniewski is the same trainer that helped him lose 150 pounds back in 2008.
Autopsy reports show that Heavy D, real name Dwight Arrington Myers, weighed 344 pounds at the time of his death.
The autopsy was completed on Wednesday, but the coroner’s office declined to release a cause of death until they know the results of toxicology reports, which could take weeks.
According to Heavy D’s cousin, he had a “touch of pneumonia,” after returning from a trip to England a few days before he passed.
“We really do believe obesity makes people do worse with lung diseases,” said Dr. Benjamin Suratt, associate division chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the University of Vermont/Fletcher Allen Health Care hospital.
“If Heavy D died of a garden-variety pneumonia,” said Suratt, “it could be that he wasn’t able to fight it off due to his lungs not being able to fully expand and his immune system not having been fully functional.”
Toni Braxton Reveals She’s Dating Outside of Her Race to Anderson Cooper (video)
Toni Braxton has given up on dating black men. The “Breathe Again” singer appeared on the Anderson Cooper show where she talked about her experiences dating outside her race for the first time.
When Anderson asked Toni, 43, if she was currently dating, she responded: “Kinda… sprinkles of dating… I’m beginning to play in the snow a bit.” When Anderson pressed her for an explanation, Toni said, “He’s Caucasian.”
“And that’s a change for you?” asked Anderson. “I’ve never played in the snow before,” said Toni.
Toni Braxton also discussed seeking revenge on an ex:
“I remember in the past in my college years I was a little revengeful. But I wasn’t a stalker though. But a little bit revengeful. But back then, the internet wasn’t as popular. I don’t want to be sued. I remember I didn’t do it but a girlfriend of mine keyed this guy’s car. She keyed it for me and I felt bad about it. Yeah, she really did that. She keyed it. But I told him I did it, and I told him i’d pay for it, actually my girlfriend did it. And he said, ‘I want my money.’ Then he later on said, ‘Oh no, don’t worry about it.’”
Watch both videos after the break!
R.I.P. Heavy D
From TMZ.com:
Rap legend Heavy D — one of the most influential rappers of the ’90s — died earlier today … TMZ has learned.
Heavy D — real name Dwight Arrington Myers — was rushed to an L.A. hospital around noon today … and was pronounced dead at the hospital at 1 PM. He was 44 years old.
We’ve learned a 911 call was placed from Heavy’s Beverly Hills home around 11:25 AM to report an unconscious male on the walkway .
When help arrived, we’re told Heavy D was conscious and speaking — and was transported to a nearby hospital.
He died a short time later.
Cops are investigating the death — and so far, there are no obvious signs of foul play.
UPDATE II:
Law enforcement tell TMZ … Heavy D had just returned from shopping and walked up some stairs when he began having trouble breathing. Adam Mills, a designer who was in the building and knew Heavy D, found him leaning against a railing and clearly in distress. Adam tells us he cradled Heavy D in his lap as others called 911. Adam says Heavy D was conscious and said to him, “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe.” When paramedics took Heavy D to the hospital he had a pulse. People in the building are saying he died of a heart attack, but we have not been able to confirm that. Law enforcement sources tell us … no foul play was involved and so far they only know the cause of death was “medical.”
UPDATE I:
Heavy D died less than 24 hours after tweeting his condolences to legendary boxer Joe Frazier who died Monday, Nov. 7 of cancer. Heavy D’s final tweet was “BE INSPIRED!”
Taylor Swift Brings Out Nelly (video)
Taylor Swift continued her outreach program for African American fans by bringing out rapper Nelly (who has fallen off considerably) during her Speak Now concert in Houston. “We’ve got a special treat for you tonight, Houston. Nelly’s here!,” she said as the audience applauded politely for the “Tip Drill” rapper. Taylor and Nelly then performed her hit “Just a Dream.”
In previous shows, Taylor has surprised her country music fans with appearances by T.I, Usher and B.O.B.
Earlier this week, Taylor introduced the newest member of her family to her millions of followers on Twitter.
In Case You missed It: 2011 Black Girls Rock Performance On BET
The 6th annual Black Girls Rock 2011! Awards in New York aired on BET last night. The show was hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross (‘Reed Between The Lines’) and Regina King. Beverly Bond (pictured above) is the creator and executive producer. The show is based on her non-profit organization titled BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc.
Since 2006, BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc. has been dedicated to the healthy development of young women and girls. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc. seeks to build the self-esteem and self-worth of young women of color by changing their outlook on life, broadening their horizons, and helping them to empower themselves.
If you missed it, you can catch up on all of the videos from last night’s performances after the break!
Mary J. Blige – My Life
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