Omarion: Rihanna’s ‘Russian Roulette’ Shows ‘Dark Side to Entertainment Industry’

If there’s one thing that Rihanna knows how to do its get people talking. Usually grabbing headlines for her fashion sense or her tumultuous relationship with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown, the Bajan beauty has been causing quite a stir with her latest single, ‘Russian Roulette.’

Since hitting the ‘net last week, reviews have been split down the middle, although some, like singer Tiffany Evans, are delving deeper into the song’s “true concept.” Evans blasted Rihanna via Twitter for what she sees as glorification of suicide and devil worship.

We spoke with Evans’ former label mate Omarion, who gave his thoughts on the growing controversy.

“I don’t personally know Rihanna’s beliefs but I think there’s a very dark and very sinister part of the entertainment business and I think it’s very visible,” he said. “This is something that a lot of people don’t look at [but for example] Michael Jackson used to be a Jehovah’s Witness and I remember hearing that he wanted to separate from the religion — and this was during the time that he was doing ‘Thriller’ [which ended up being] his biggest album.”

“Fast forward to now,” Omarion continued, “[and] it really made me think that there is a [time as an artist] where there’s going to be a choice. The [entertainment] world [dictates] that you have to be with three or four women, or do this in order to get that [and] I think it’s really interesting. With God and the industry, it’s really dark. The dark side is having to get in, there’s a certain submission you need to have. Just like a gang [initiation], so to speak. You might have to do something against your moral code. I’m not saying that it’s always this way, but when you’re someone that is young and you’re coming up in the industry and you really don’t have a grip on your morals it can be very dark. The game is just about over saturation.

“I don’t know if Rihanna [has fallen victim to those pressures]. I’ve never really heard her speak about it,” he said. “I hope that she doesn’t believe in that stuff and I don’t think that she does, but I don’t know. It’s not just been a Rihanna thing, [there's has been religious speculation] about a lot of artists.”

Others coming to the Grammy winner’s defense are both the song’s writer, Ne-Yo, and producer Chuck Harmony. “There are no satanic messages in the music,” Harmony wrote via Twitter. “Maybe if we did a remake of [Evans' single] ‘Promise Ring,’ then Rihanna wouldn’t be a devil worshiper. People are so closed-minded. The song is not literal. Like most provocative art, its symbolism. Grow up.”

So are there hidden messages in Rihanna’s music? Judge for yourself, when her album ‘Rated R,’ drops November 23.

Source: TheBoomBox.com

Chris Brown – I Can Transform Ya – Music Video

Chris Brown’s music video for his new single “I Can Transform Ya” featuring Lil Wayne is out.

I consider myself a Chris Brown fan, I guess. The song is pretty good and the video is alright. What I don’t like about Chris right now is his attitude. I think he should’ve taken his experience and put it toward something a little deeper than this. I think he’s awfully happy for a classified “wife beater.” I think it’s stupid of him to be upset with Oprah for speaking the truth. And mostly, I think his ass should be in JAIL for the severity of what he did to Rihanna. For some reason he thinks we should just forget that he punched Rihanna in the face and threatened to kill her…? I don’t know. It’s just not the route I pictured him taking. I’m not saying he has to sit around a pout for 2 years. But he could show some poise. maturity. humility. just at least ACT like he cares. I’m pretty shocked too at the support he’s getting. So many people support him, and some of them are the same ones who would want to see a “regular” person put in jail for what he did. It’s strange to me. But anyway, here’s the video. What do you think?

Miley’s little sister?

These photos surfaced of Noah Cyrus…Miley’s little sister. There is something seriously wrong with parents who let their kids dress like that, even for Halloween. lol. This is not even abide by the “slut rule” from Mean Girls. no bunny ears or a witch hat or anything. just a stripper outfit? really? there are some other questionable pictures too..but i won’t post those. trust me, they are pictures you’ll wish you could un-see. lol.

Lil Wayne pleads to attempted gun possession

Rapper Lil Wayne arrives in Manhattan court Wednesday.

Source: The Associated Press via Google News

NEW YORK — In the midst of a career surge that has made him one of rap’s biggest stars, Lil Wayne is bracing for a year behind bars after pleading guilty Thursday in a two-year-old gun case.

A glum Lil Wayne said little as he admitted illegally having a loaded gun on his tour bus in 2007, moving to end a case that had churned along as he collected Grammys and gold records. He’s expected to get a year in jail at his sentencing, set for February.

The plea, which came as he boasted the country’s No. 1 pop song, makes Lil Wayne the latest in a long line of rappers to face incarceration after topping the charts.

Arguably rap’s most popular artist, Lil Wayne somberly answered his judge’s questions with “yes, sir” and “no, sir” as he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of attempted criminal possession of a weapon.

He acknowledged he had a loaded .40-caliber semiautomatic gun when the bus was stopped shortly after a Manhattan concert on July 22, 2007. His lawyer had previously disputed the gun was the rapper’s, in part by questioning the reliability of a highly sensitive DNA test that prosecutors said tied him to the weapon.

State Supreme Court Justice Charles Solomon warned Lil Wayne that he wouldn’t be able later to withdraw the plea, as some people try to do.

“I’m not one of those people,” said the rapper, who sat in court in jeans and a hooded parka. He pulled up the hood and didn’t speak as he left the courthouse with members of his entourage, who piled into four black SUVs. He’s due back in court Dec. 15 before his sentencing date, which has yet to be set.

Rihanna plays “Russian Roulette”?

Rihanna – “Russian Roulette”
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

There’s a big controversy about Rihanna’s new song “Russian Roulette” right now. some people are saying songs like this shouldn’t be released in these times of….kids killing each other at school, people murdering their family members, people desperate for money, and other horrible and tragic scenarios.

but wait, i’m not sure if i agree. i usually take the side of the “music doesn’t kill people, people kill people” kind of idea. and i think some people misunderstand the “game” of Russian Roulette. from what i understand, it’s about a playing with chance. so i feel like the song is more about taking a chance. going through with something even though you know that it’ll “kill” you. pulling the trigger. what really bothers me is that Rihanna knew this song would cause some controversy. it’s the whole reason why she and her people picked it as the first single. because i think otherwise releasing a song this slow and dark as a first single is generally not a good idea. (CUE MARIAH CAREY’S “I WANNA KNOW WHAT LOVE IS”) Unless you are trying to “darken” your image and you want to be seen as a mysterious and interesting artist, rather than a popstar.

Tiffany Evans (singer, most known for being that little girl with the amazing voice on Star Search, and maybe for her failed 2007 single “Promise Ring” featuring Ciara) recently went on Twitter and pretty much said that Rihanna worships the devil, and that “Some of your favorite people pretend to worship God but they only do that to save face. Or seem innocent.” The reaction has been pretty split between people who think she’s jealous/full of shit, and people who think there’s some truth behind conspiracy theories surrounding artists like Kanye West, Jay-Z, Beyonce, and Lady GaGa. It’s kinda crazy. Not the theories…i’m not sure what to think about those. The drama is crazy. Part of me can’t help but think that Tiffany’s career is not taking off, and it takes something like this to draw attention to herself.

What are your thoughts on this song and this controversy? Do you think this song is inappropriate in any way (specifically the gunshot heard at the end)?

Hulu is going to start charging your ass

Hulu.com will reportedly start charging for their services next year.

At an industry summit in NYC on Oct. 21, News Corp Deputy Chairman Chase Carey revealed that online video hub Hulu will begin charging users for content as soon as 2010, according to Broadcasting and Cable. Carey told reporters that a subscription system is likely, although some content will probably continue to be offered free of charge. “I think a free model is a very difficult way to capture the value of our content. I think what we need to do is deliver that content to consumers in a way where they will appreciate the value,” he said. Source: Entertainment Weekly

I’m not really a Hulu regular…there are some shows on there that I like, but I honestly forget all about this website and I tend to watch my shows elsewhere. But it was GREAT for replaying some of my favorite episodes and clips, like “Dick in a Box” on SNL. A lot of people are mad about this. The whole point of Hulu from the beginning was to deliver free content, and now they don’t wanna do it anymore? I suppose it’s just another example of what happens to all sites like this one, as well as Facebook and Myspace. Eventually money becomes the #1 priority and things are changed around too much. Oh well.

Thoughts?