BLUE-EYED SOUL

Despite having Usher, Mary J. Blige, Michael Jackson and Christina Aguilera on his C.V. it still took a while for Robin Thicke to gain acceptance as an R’n’B artiste. By Davina Morris
Dubbed by Pharrell Williams as the man who is “going to change music”, US artist Robin Thicke is, without a doubt, one to watch.

His impressive new album, The Evolution of Robin Thicke has already got music critics and R’n’B fans in a frenzy– possibly because the Neptunes-produced track Wanna Love You Girl, was circulating among R’n’B aficionados ages ago. (Record labels take far too long to jump on board with hot music.)

Still, the album is soon to be released, and with Thicke performing at London’s Jazz Café this week, audiences will have the chance to hear his blend of soulful R’n’B grooves for themselves.

Success is sure to beckon for 30-year-old Thicke, who is signed to Pharrell’s label, Star Trak Records. He sings, he writes, he produces and – oh yeah – he’s white.


MIXED-MARRIAGE
But thankfully, he’s quite willing to acknowledge and discuss the mainstream’s evident preference of white soul singers over their black counterparts, without dismissing the issue as a myth.

But then, issues of race– and racism – aren’t only prevalent when it comes to his career. Married to black US actress Paula Patton (who’s starred in such films as Déjà Vu and Idlewild), Thicke is all too aware of society’s racial prejudices.

“A lot of people take issue with the fact that I’m in a mixed-marriage – especially internationally,” says Thicke.

“There’s still a lot of racism out there. As a black actress in Hollywood, my wife is dealing with racism all the time. And for me, being a white guy, it’s rare for people to not make that an issue. But I don’t really care. That’s just the outlook of so many people – they need to define what’s black and what’s white. I couldn’t care less about all that. I just wanna make great music that brings people together.”

Still, he’s not oblivious to the reason why some black R’n’B fans might experience a tinge of hateration to see white artists enjoying mainstream exposure with black music – perhaps more so than their black counterparts. But Thicke doesn’t hate the haters.

“I’d hate me too – I’m a big hater. But the great thing about haters is that once they do become fans, they become the biggest fans because they were the hardest to knock down. I know, because I’m the biggest hater. I was the one who wanted to be the coolest guy in the class, so I would hate on other people in order to make myself feel better. So if anyone wants to hate on me to make themselves feel better, they can go right ahead.

“But in all seriousness, I’m very aware – especially when I come to Europe – that it is the white artists who make black music, who tend to get the most exposure.

“You see Pink, Justin Timberlake, Eminem and Nelly Furtado on the TV, but a lot fewer black artists. I think that just shows how much racism still does exist.


SUPPORT
“People want to see emulations of themselves. Very often, white people will give greater support to artists who look like them and black people do the same.

“A lot of people still aren’t able or willing to open their hearts and minds to accept greatness from any avenue. They just want it to be palatable for their sensibilities and that’s a real shame.”

What’s also a shame is the fact that it took quite so long for Thicke to catch a break. Having written and produced for the likes of Brandy and Brian McKnight and amassed dozens of gold and platinum records with artists including Usher, Mary J. Blige, Michael Jackson and Christina Aguilera, you’d have thought that Thicke’s own career would have taken off long before now.

His debut album A Beautiful World enjoyed only moderate success. And even since signing to Pharrell’s Star Trak imprint and releasing the Neptunes-produced Wanna Love You Girl, Thicke still hovered under the mainstream’s radar.

But considering that track made more than a few waves among R’n’B fans, why did it take quite so long for the new album to follow?

“It was just the record company not totally believing that people were ready for it and that there was a place for it and that it would sell. But finally, they just threw it out there with some blind faith and no promotion, and luckily the song, Lost Without You took off, and now everybody’s paying attention.

“I loved that song from the very beginning and a lot of people felt it was pretty special. So it was really a case of waiting for the record company to get on board with it as well.”

Indeed, sultry ballad Lost Without You is one of many impressive tracks on the album. It’s also a favourite of Thicke’s dad, actor and TV show host, Alan Thicke, best known for his role in the US series, Growing Pains.

Thicke explains that he never tried to capitalize on his dad’s fame.

“If I had tried, it never would have worked. It would’ve just got in the way of people seeing me and hearing my music. My dad knows that his success was always a hindrance to mine.


GREAT MUSIC
“I mean, I love my dad to death. And eventually, great music will reach people, regardless of who that music comes from. Eventually, it wouldn’t matter who my dad is. But at the same time, if Jay-Z’s dad was Bill Cosby, it would’ve taken him a long time to be taken seriously as a rapper.”

Well, at last, Thicke is being taken seriously. And having turned 30 last month, it seems that the big 3.0. is treating him kindly.

“It’s been wonderful. For years, I was worried about turning 30. But now I’m here, I’m enjoying my greatest success and an amazing marriage, so this really has been the best year of my life.”


Source: The Voice

All AP News
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Beyonce Nominated for 6 BET Awards

Beyonce earned a leading six nominations Wednesday for the 2007 BET Awards, including nominations for top female R&B artist, video for "Irreplaceable" and duets with Jay-Z on "Deja Vu" and "Upgrade U."

"Dreamgirls" Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, R&B singer Ciara, hip-hop's Akon and the group Gnarls Barkley all had three nominations.

The Black Entertainment Television Awards in music, television, film and sports will be presented June 26. Mo'Nique is slated to host the show on cable's BET Network from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Performers include 50 Cent and T.I.

Diana Ross will be honored with BET's Lifetime Achievement Award and Don Cheadle will be given the Humanitarian Award for his efforts at ending genocide in Darfur.

The list of nominees include:

Male Hip Hop: Diddy, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, T.I.

Collaboration: Akon featuring Snoop Dogg, "I Wanna Love You"; Beyonce featuring Jay-Z, "Deja Vu"; Beyonce featuring Jay-Z, "Upgrade U"; Diddy featuring Keyshia Cole, "Last Night"; Ludacris featuring Mary J. Blige, "Runaway Love."

Female R&B: Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Ciara, Jennifer Hudson, Corinne Bailey Rae.

Male R&B: Akon, John Legend, Gerald Levert, Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke.

Group: Gnarls Barkley, Mary Mary, Outkast, Pretty Ricky, Three Six Mafia.

New Artist: Lupe Fiasco, Gnarls Barkley, Jennifer Hudson, MIMS, Corinne Bailey Rae.

Gospel Artist: Shirley Caesar, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Dave Hollister, Mary Mary.

Video of the Year: Akon featuring Snoop Dogg, "I Wanna Love You"; Beyonce, "Irreplaceable"; Beyonce & Shakira, "Beautiful Liar"; Ciara, "Like a Boy"; Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy."

Actress: Tichina Arnold, Angela Bassett, Jennifer Hudson, Kerry Washington, Chandra Wilson.

Actor: Idris Elba, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Will Smith, Forest Whitaker.

Female Athlete: Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings, Gail Devers, Lisa Leslie, Serena Williams.

Male Athlete: Reggie Bush, LeBron James, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Dwyane Wade, Tiger Woods.

BET J Cool Like That award: Gerald Levert, Brian McKnight, Eric Roberson, Musiq Soulchild, Elisabeth Withers.

BET Choice award: Beyonce, "Irreplaceable"; Birdman & Lil Wayne, "Stuntin' Like My Daddy"; Bow Wow featuring Chris Brown, "Shortie Like Mine"; Ciara, "Because of You"; Robin Thicke, "Lost Without You"; UNK "Walk It Out."

___

On the Net:

http://www.bet.com/

Beyonce Up For 6 BET Awards
Filed under: 50 Cent , Awards , Beyonce , Robin Thicke



http://cbs2.com/entertainment/entertainmen..._136181546.html

50 Cent and Robin Thicke were on hand to announce the nominations for the 2007 BET Awards, and Beyonce looks like she's going to be the one to beat this year. Beyonce earned a leading six nominations Wednesday for the 2007 BET Awards, including nods for top female R&B artist, video for "Irreplaceable" and duets with Jay-Z on "Deja Vu" and "Upgrade U."

Beyonce's nominations haul doubled that of anyone else. "Dreamgirls" Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, R&B singer Ciara, hip-hop's Akon and the group Gnarls Barkley all took three nominations.

The Black Entertainment Television Awards in music, television, film and sports will be presented June 26. Mo'Nique is slated to host the show on cable's BET Network from the Shrine Auditorium. Performers include 50 Cent and T.I.

Diana Ross will be honored with BET's Lifetime Achievement Award and Don Cheadle will be given the Humanitarian Award for his efforts at ending genocide in Darfur.

Posted by: Jessica Marx
http://socialitelife.com/2007/05/17/beyonc..._bet_awards.php

Singer Robin Thicke returns on July 1st with his latest CD Something Else. Oscar Winner Jennifer Hudson also returns to her first love singing with her first solo project on September 30th.

Source: Patty Jackson

Actress Paula Patton refused to attend her high school prom with the man who was to become her husband-because he was white.


The star has been dating soul singer Robin Thicke since they were both teenagers and she has only recently told him why they missed out on prom night.


She explains, "I didn't want people to know (we were dating). I didn't want people to call me a sellout or an Oreo, because I'd gotten that my whole life and it wasn't the truth.


"I actually just admitted this to Robin not too long ago."


But Thicke tells Giant magazine he was far from surprised: "She had actually told a couple of people I was black.


"Then prom night comes, we'd been together a year and a half, and she just lies and says she didn't want to go instead of saying she didn't want to take me."


Patton finally gave up her fears about what friends would think about her interracial romance and went public with her boyfriend, who became her husband in 2005.


The couple is now expecting its first child.

Source: PanacheReport

Robin Thicke To Be A Dad


Robin Thicke and wife Paula Patton are expecting their first child, Usmagazine.com has learned.

On Tuesday, the two - who began dating in high school before wedding in 2005 - got cozy at the 2009 Angel Ball in New York City.

Thicke, 32, was happy to sing her praises."She could make a marriage work with a chair," he told Us of Patton, 33, who is currently shooting the Queen Latifah comedy, Just Wright. "She's an incredible woman, and she's very beautiful, so I'm just lucky to be with her."

Asked how they work so well together, Patton told Us, "He's ... amazing!"

Source Us Weekly

Robin Thicke To Be A Dad

Robin Thicke and wife Paula Patton are expecting their first child, Usmagazine.com has learned.

On Tuesday, the two - who began dating in high school before wedding in 2005 - got cozy at the 2009 Angel Ball in New York City.

Thicke, 32, was happy to sing her praises."She could make a marriage work with a chair," he told Us of Patton, 33, who is currently shooting the Queen Latifah comedy, Just Wright. "She's an incredible woman, and she's very beautiful, so I'm just lucky to be with her."

Asked how they work so well together, Patton told Us, "He's ... amazing!"

Source Us Weekly

Robin Thicke and his actress wife Paula Patton welcomed their first child, Julian Fuego on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

"Mother, father and son are all doing well," says Thicke's rep.

The crooner had canceled his portion of Tuesday night’s show at the Staples Center for "personal reasons." But his tour mate, Alicia Keys, offered her congratulations from the stage.


In December, Thicke told Essence.com he was looking forward to "[t]eaching him how to respect a woman. Teaching him music. Getting to play him Biggie Smalls at some age ... That's the beauty of having a child."

High school sweethearts Thicke, 32, and Patton, 34, will celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary in June.

Source People