Brown Sista

Rihanna
Simply put, she has nothing that makes her special. Nothing that makes her stand apart from the other flock of female singers out right now. Originality is what keeps an artist around year after year. When what you do is totally unique to only you, your chances of staying around for a long time are increased. This is what kept Whitney around even after Mariah came out and What kept Janet around even after Aaliyah came out.
Kelly Rowland
Years spent as Beyonce’s back up singer have already taken there toll on her career. Her single isn’t played on the radio and her album is about as expected as the plague. Miss Kelly will be Kelly’s last solo album.
Letoya Luckett
She just can’t sing. Beyonce ain’t never lied when she told us that. Letoya had a quick hit with Torn but once the novelty wore off we were left with a girl who couldn’t hold a note if you put it in her hand. I expect another album from her this year or the next but it will bomb cause people are pretty much over the whole damn Destiny’s Child hoopla and are just ready to move on.
Amerie
Her career never really took off but every time she comes out with an album she gets a bit of publicity but it never leads to hits. I expect her new CD will flop as the others did and she will go crawling back to Rich Harrison begging him to give her the Beyonce sound that she spawned in the first place.
Jennifer Hudson
People only backed her because they hated Beyonce. I can’t see a big girl like Jennifer even standing a chance in the music industry that is so damn looks conscience. She has a better chance at a movie career but again her weight will hold her back. She is like Letoya, they both rode the “I hate Beyonce” train to stardom but that train has reached it’s end and I don’t think either of them will have what it takes to stand on their own two feet.

Allow me to interject if I may.

B.Suleman, I beg to differ with your take on Jennifer’s career. El Cantante, Bordertown and An Unfinished Life all did poorly at the box office. Those were her last three films. Her last CD, Como Ama Una Mujer, has also sold poorly. Her world tour that was due to start last year was canceled and tickets refunded to overseas fans who had already purchased them. Her clothing line is on the ropes with accusations of mismanagement flying about. Several key figures in the company also quit. Yes Jennifer is obviously still a very big star, she just isn’t top dog anymore and folks aren’t checking for her as they once did. Everything you say about Jennifer is either past tense or wishful thinking on your part. You can’t just assume Jennifer will be back at the top of the charts until she gets there. Same for her movie career. Here and now as wee speak, Jennifer’s music and movie career are pretty much at a stand still.

[quote comment="8266"]This year she is ready to rebound gloriously with a hip hop flavored album, 2 indie flicks that will show her acting chops and will start shooting for big studio films like The Governess and Love and Other Impossible Pursuits.[/quote]Jennifer Lopez does not have any acting chops and an Unfinished Life was suppose to do the same thing but who wants to see Jennifer living in a dang log cabin? Her career has run it’s course. It happens to everyone. After abandoning her roots she tried releasing Latino themed music and movies and even they weren’t buying it. With the right script she may be able to salvage her mediocre acting career but musically it is a new day. Fergie, Beyonce, Rihanna and Nelly Furtdao are running things. I honestly think the day of the lip synching dance diva is over (sorry Janet).

Stella your post is funny as hell. As painful as it may be for some your comment about LeToya and Jennifer Hudson is right on te mark.

any and anybody that tries to have a career after a reality show

that’s so hard to pick. because all it takes is that ONE hit. either movie or song and you’re back on. As long as you can remain relevant or have a side hussle, you have a career.

& j.lo is still making money with her many ventures.

everybody’s career has that expiration date.

It’s a hard thing to do - Count somebody out - the same things that are being said about JLo were the same things that were said about Mariah Carey - and we don’t even want to have that conversation. No one expected Mimi to come back the way she did. Peeps were talking about her using her heritage and her cleavage and now it was over - even after the Glitter fiasco people were counting her OUT - And J-Lo was very very successful doing her run and the only thing that really messed her up was her oversaturation - she was everywhere and people got tired of that. It was like she was married and divorced and engaged everytime you looked around - it was not her music that people were tired of - it was HER!

I can hate on Jen b/c she was truly one of those people that busting her *** to get where she was - I mean she was a darn Fly Girl for pete’s sake…lol

So I gotta disagree with you whole heartedly - J-Lo was 32 when she released her best album - that is saying a lot.

Jennifer Hudson will be one of those women that will be around I can guarantee you that. I remember what people said about Queen Latifah not having any success in the movies after Living Single went off - but looky looky - you can’t do nothing with that chick - she is a bad girl.

Ima need to think on this thing b.c there is really no one that I can think is completely out until they are out - Hell if ex addict Whitney is still get buzz - then anyone can make it in this business. :dance2: :dance2:

She should set her sights on Broadway or the film industry, because I see her ending up in the Adult Contempo aisle of Sam Goodie’s, on sale for 8.99.

Kands at June 7th, 2007 around 9:14 am, Quote

And what is wrong with that? LOL Amy Winehouse in 7.99@ Best Buy -

You know what? People said Ciara or Alicia Keys were one hit wonders and look at them now, especially Ms Keys, doing it big now!! That’s because they have star quality and I saw it from the beginning, first single! People already down Jennifer when she hasn’t put out anything yet, Dreamgirls proved she had potential, I believe that she’s here to stay because she has star quality!!

Now for those :

Cassie - No star quality, nothing! Poor thang been signed for her looks, and I feel for the young lil girl cause she’s so cute but that’s not her vocation and I hope she finds what she wants in her heart.

Kelly Rowland - I so don’t want to be pessimistic with her but Kelly seems to be the kind of person that everyone sees having the potential to be BIG but she doesn’t see herself as being big. So if she doesn’t have that vision for herself can’t nobody help her.

Fergie - Ain’t nothing without BEP. I don’t know how much she sold solo but if she’s platinum she’s a one album wonder, guaranteed, she’s the BEP girl that’s why people remembered her a for a litte while, but she doesn’t have staying power.

Amerie - Will keep making albums that will mostly sell overseas. She’s famous over there, she’s a songwriter, co-producer and has her own label. At this point, she’s making money off of her songwritings, she’s an actress too, she’s never gonna be mega-big but she’s gonna keep releasing albums as long as it sells overseas, and if she stops making albums, she’ll still be behind the scenes.

Rihanna - They’re using the girl at Def Jam for as long as they can cause they know she can’t last long. 3 albums in 2 years. Nuff said!

Christina Milian, Mya, Ashanti, Olivia - It’s over.

QUESTIONS : I’m curious to know what you all think of Chilli, Nicole Scherzinger and Janet’s careers.

Brandy will come back, mark my words. People called Mariah and Mary J history and they proved all the naysayers wrong. Brandy is already an established artist like the other 2, I believe she’s not over, plus with all that she’s going through, she has a story to tell and people will want to listen to it.

Toni Braxton went too far with the sex kitten thing. Kind of like Mariah, but if Mariah came back (all dressed up in “Like That” video), why couldn’t Toni? A woman of her caliber cannot be taken seriously crawling on the floor and competing with newcomers. Get some sense, showcase your vocals instead of your titties, get a midtempo or ballad hit ala “Without You” MJB, and I’m sure she can make a comeback.

[quote comment="8272"]any and anybody that tries to have a career after a reality show

that’s so hard to pick. because all it takes is that ONE hit. either movie or song and you’re back on. As long as you can remain relevant or have a side hussle, you have a career.

& j.lo is still making money with her many ventures.

everybody’s career has that expiration date.[/quote]
True. but some peoples expiration dates are shorter, much shorter than others.

I need to edit my post too to add South Beach to the list of Jennifer’s most recent failures. That show was produced through her production company and they used her name relentlessly to promote it. Problem is Jennifer’s name means nothing today. Once the novelty wore off everything she touched started to fail. So yeah of corse all these failed ventures put money in her pocket, but because they failed they didn’t keep putting in her pocket and they only helped lower her stock in the public’s eye.

This is a great discussion, and I want to get in on it.

As many people have already said everything is based on looks today and you can blame that on the video age.

When you mentioned the soul divas of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, also remember that music videos were not in play then. Once videos because THE way for artists to sell their music, it because increasingly more obviously that when it came to women, the labels wanted to sell it in a sexy package.

If people like Aretha, Dionne, Anita (Baker) and even Chaka were just coming out today, there is no way in hell they would make it–just based on how superficial society is now.

With that said, here is my list:

Fergie: She is capitalizing on a “black” sound and attitude, when that wears off it’s over for her.

Beyonce: As soon as she gets knocked up and starts getting fat, she will be forgotten. Right now she is mesmerizing because of her performances and her barely there attire. Her voice is not so great, but her performances are outstanding. Her entire “thing” is wrapped up in her appearance.

Rhianna: Saw her on Jay Leno a couple of nights ago, and she she sucked! She was really stiff and looked like a Bratz doll. That is getting old really quick because you can tell that she has NO personality.

Ashanti: The only reason why Ashanti made it in the first place was because everyone was scrambling to replace Aaliyah after she died. If you think about it, only after she died people started paying attention to Beyonce. And all those clones followed. So tired.

What these people need to do is follow Tyra’s lead: She knew HER days were numbered, and she needed to do something so that she would have longevity in this biz. Same goes for J.Lo. You guys can say what you about these chicks, but they’ve been very business savvy, and I cannot see them being “irrevelent” anytime soon.

Brandy- Her career has been over since that “Afrodisiac” ablum came out some years ago. The song she had with Kanye West was cool, but she can’t compete with the female artists now who have to be overall “entertainers” not just singers. (Monica falls into this category too but I still think Monica has a shot if she can just get the right producers on her album)

Cassie (Assie)- Need I say more. The girl just can not sing. We all witnessed that on 106 & park

Amerie- Her last album flopped and I don’t think her first album did too well either. She just doen’t have the “POP” to her to make her stand out and get folks attention. She’s really boring.

Ashanti- She could never really sing either. Only reason why she got attention from her first album was b/c Aaliyah had died and we were looking for someone to step up and take her place. She did for a lil while, but the Beyonce and Ciara have taken her place now

And I hate to say this one but JANET- Her last 2 albums have flopped. People aren’t into pop anymore like they were in the early 90’s when she ruled the music industry. She is trying to compete with 20 something year old girls who are stepping up the music game. True, Janet is one of the best performers out there, but b/c of Beyonce setting the bar, you have to be able to SING, dance and write. And whether people want to admit it or not, Janet has never been known for her vocal ability. And now your vocal ability is EVERYTHING in this business, if you want to stay around, even though Ciara isn’t the best singer either, she can perform (we’re gonna see how long she stays around too, but if she keeps stepping up her performance game she will have a good run like Janet did)

But its really sad that alot of these female performers are getting there deals b/c of their looks; Cassie, Rhianna, Teirra Marie, Tyra (Country Boy song), Amerie, Ciara, etc. Eventually the public will see through that non-talent and turn their backs. I think are starting to get tired of all this young R&B cats and are going back to the Grown & Sexy music. Its the year for real R&B to come back and its already started: Robin Thicke, Bobby V, Tank, Joe, Carl Thomas, Tamia…its just sad that some of them are getting the credit and recognition they deserve b/c of poor promotion and this kiddy hiphop that is c*ck blocking them….

I agree with you Miss B. Beyonce has set a whole new standard and you do have to be able to sing and dance today. lipsynching is dead. This also is why Jennifer’s time is up. Jennifer never ever sang live. Even while singing slow songs she faked it. Not even Janet did that.The bar has been raised and Ciara undesrtands that and is singing live these days. Yeah she sounds odd at times but it’s still better than lipsynching and it makes your performances seem more real.

When I said LeToya and Jennifer Hudson rode the hate Beyonce train to fame, I didn’t mean those ladies personally hated Beyonce. Because certain segments of the media don’t like Beyonce, whenever they get the chance to down her for another female they will. This is why Jennifer was over-hyped at the expense of Beyonce and why the media paid so much attention to Toya even though she was clearly vocally challenged. Now as the hype as died down they will both have to prove themselves and I don’t think either can do it.

This is a topic best discussed with adults who don’t take things said about celebrities personally. Brown Sista does not hate on Black women but we sure don’t support every Black woman out there either.

As for your assertion that White blogs do not ask such questions, you obviously did not read this topic clearly or click on the link as this topic is a spin off of one I found on a White blog.

Lastly, we all know how the industry is and how it promotes the most frivolous of artists, thus there is no reason why we can’t discuss this topic, regardless of what color the artists are.

[quote comment="8303"]Where can I find a blog that does not hate on our african american sistas? I thought brownsista was the one, but obviously not. Why do we as african americans have to be so negative all of the time. On the white blogs, you do not see them asking the question about “who’s career is over”. Heck, Paris Hilton has absolutely no talent, and they (white folks, her community) still give her a lot of play. I just think that we should support our sistas, instead of always finding fault or criticising (sp). How do you know when or if any of these ladies will put out an album or movie and it be a hit. How can you or I predict someone’s future. Why would we want too. Please stop the hate.[/quote]
Some of you really have no idea what it really takes to run this blog and keep folks interested and coming back. We have to think quick, come up with new ideas and that is not easy to do when you are trying to do positive celebrity news/gossip. This was a well thought out post designed to get the visitors involved and involved they have become. Expect more topics that allow the guests to vent and state their opinions. Some of those opinions will be negative, some will be positive but all will be respectful. If this topic was too much for some of you to take then maybe you are better off here .

For the people who disagreed with me about J.Lo.

Sad to see you don’t see a star when you see one. If Jennifer has defied her mediocre background, ethnicity, her mediocre vocals, her competent acting chops (to me they are very good, just not tested to the fullest potential; but for the sake of keeping peace), her late-age entrance into the business to make it to the 275 Million Dollar woman she is now:

She can very well endure one commercial flop in movies (Gigli) and music (Rebirth) each.

When you people cite An Unfinished Life (sorry but El Cantante and Bordertown havent even been released! Check your facts) as a flop, you forget that that was hardly big studio fare meant to make money. J.Lo. has proved time and again in money-making romantic comedies that she is big enough a name to carry a movie. Both her mainstream movies (Shall We Dance, Monster in Law) did very well even directly after the Gigli fiasco. So I have very strong reason in believing, that regardless of how her indie films fare, her next studio movies will be hits. Especially now that people hate her less….

For the music side, she has yet to release something mainstream after Rebirth. She released Como Ama…. (her best album) and it did well for a spanish record. Wait for her next mainstream english album before you even consider her done. The phenomena that is Lopez isnt ready to call it quits just yet.

Courtesy of TMZ:

“While some are declaring Jennifer Lopez’s Spanish-language album a failure, the numbers tell a different story.

“Como Ama Una Mujer” debuted at #10 this week, with 48,000 copies sold. Sounds bad, right? Well, it’s actually #1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums and Top Latin Pop Albums lists, and it’s only the fifth Spanish language album to land in the top 10; the others being ones from Shakira, Maná, Don Omar and ironically, Selena. It’s also the highest-selling Spanish-language debut album ever, according to Epic Records.”

Source: http://www.tmz.com/2007/04/05/.....ally-tank/

And oh, J.Lo. gave cool to the hip hop industry. It was her who blended R&B, pop and Hip Hop in such ratios as to appeal everyone.

And just for the record: Her 2001 album J.Lo. has really outsold Beyonce’s solo debut (DC doesnt count). Both are certified 4x platinum by the RIAA. But while Beyonce’s at 4.3 Million, J.Lo. is about 4.5Million. Just a fact. I know Beyonce is on a surer ground musically (even if I dont really love her music)

Who cares that much about Jenny Lo Lo anyway? Why try and hijack this post and make it all about Jennifer. Stephanie only used her as example to show what she expected from people rather than pure hate posts. Debate the validity of Jennifer’s career on a Jennifer site. Enough is enough. There is no need for B Suelman to keep bringing that old hag up.

MISS B….Brandy’s album AFRODISIAC was very good. The sales were not but the quality was good. Debbie, this site is not about hating. Some of the comments may be, but that does not mean the people who run it are haters. You need to read carefully. If you don’t like this site do not return to it. They are only asking the questions that most people are thinking anyway. And the white people aren’t posting things like this because you can catch them on cable tv……..the Entertainment channel…E

J-lo is a multi-millionaire and still continue to be. Do any of these women except for Beyonce, Halle and Oprah have as much as J-lo. I don’t think so, whatever some of ya’ll got to say won’t mean a damn thing cause she’s continuing to make bread by the way her perfume is one of the top selling female perfumes ever. Tyra Banks says J-lo glow is her favorite.

some of y’all make sense. why are you argiuing over beyonce and j.lo. they all got theirs. and you claim j.lo has totally faded after 5 years. you dont know her history and her struggles and how long she has been in this business. so do not even try to compare her with beyonce. plus she is not a sister,this discussion has switched to beyonce vs. j.lo. quit it. even if you want to compare them. beyonce has only done music for 9 yrs.. 9 yrs. j.lo has done movies and everything else for amost 15. j.lo struggled for almost all her lifeto get into this business and gain the success she has. she is a hardworker. beyonce has her parents, lucky enough fo rher.beyonce’s work ethic cannot stand near j.lo’s and besides if you say j.lo disintegrated after 5 yrs….beyonce has only been around solo for 3yrs 5yrs havent come yet…. and seriously lets get real…beyonce’s success is not close to j.los even if you add in her time with DC. thinking of success dont you add in financially. j.lo has an empire,she’s worth up to Diddy and J-ayz. Beyonce is worth about 100 mill.she is much more renowned abroud than beyonce and she will ever be. even as far as Africa and india.

[quote comment="8349"]Well if Tyra says Jlo is her favorite then by golly we had all better jump on that ship.

Girl please. You have bitter Jlo fan written all over you. Get over it already. :loser:[/quote]
Did I say I was a J-Lo fan NO, even if I was what does that have to do with anything? I’m just stating the truth while you my dear is talking nonsense and you not the only one I’m referring to but since you want to come at me with some lame statement than I’ll come back at you. It seem like you the one that’s bitter. Now you the one that better get over it and think about what you type down. And trust me you don’t want to see a bitter women.

Most Black actresses never reach superstar status so their fall is not as noticeable as someone like Lindsay Lohan. Honestly, had you asked this question 5 or ten years ago I would have easily said Halle Berry. Who knew she would last this long when we saw her in Jungle Fever and Boomerang? This media latched on to her and the rest is Academy Award history.

Singers are another story though and Angela has most the most common sense so far. When Black artists are pushed into crossover success they are teetering on the edge. The pop market is fickle when it comes to us and we can be hot hot today and cold cold tomorrow.

Toni Braxton started off a great r n’ b singer but after her first pop hit they pushed her into being a pop star and putting out lousy music like Spanish Guitar that alienated soul fans and bored her pop market.

Mary J Blige has continued to actually get bigger after 15 years in the biz because she never SOLD OUT to the pop market. She stayed true to her fan base and they stayed true to her.

Whoa. I dont get my facts from Wiki, or the Beyonce world you live in. Jennifer Lopez’s J.Lo. has outsold Dangerously in Love whether you like it or not. And didnt I just say that musically Beyonce is on surer grounds? But this is the root. Beyonce is just that. A singer. Nobody can even in their biggest delusions claim that Dreamgirls was carried by Beyonce. Dreamgirls is J.Hud’s baby all the way. If J.Hud hadn’t created all that Oscar buzz, Dreamgirls would only have done slightly better than Fighting Temptations and I laugh at some of you who count Austin Powers and Pink Panther as Beyonce movies. I shouldn’t even be discussing Beyonce as an actress.

But wait. Then you have Jennifer. Somebody who first appeared on the scene 17 years ago (Mi Familia, Living Color 1990) and has slowly but surely made to superstardom. She wasnt a packaged product from the start like Beyonce was.

And the people who bring in Beyonce’s accolades. The fact that Beyonce is capable of doing something great in music one day or that she can sing can in no way erase the fact that Beyonce is even more of a singles artist than Jennifer. I have yet to meet a person who can tell me that apart from the singles and the title track, Dangerously in Love is one heck of a boring uninspired and mediocre album. Her B’Day album is more consistent but as a whole cannot measure upto her DIL singles.

So Beyonce the solo artist, has yet to become the music great some of you envision her to be. Are you actually happy with the quality of material that Dangerously in Love had apart from the singles or how big a dissapointment was B’Day in terms of quality music.

And you cannot for the life of you keep bringing Destiny’s Child up again and again.

And oh yeh, Jennifer had her first big hit with Anaconda in 1997. So its 10 years of success for her now and 17 years of a career full with hardwork.

[quote comment="8348"]J-lo is a multi-millionaire and still continue to be. Do any of these women except for Beyonce, Halle and Oprah have as much as J-lo. I don’t think so, whatever some of ya’ll got to say won’t mean a damn thing cause she’s continuing to make bread by the way her perfume is one of the top selling female perfumes ever. Tyra Banks says J-lo glow is her favorite.[/quote]

YES Oprah will always have more, she’s a BILLIONNAIRE and has other ventures other than TV, Oprah is on a whole ‘nother level. :|

enough already!!!

Music:
With very few exceptions I may hum along to a few of these tracks or even kick up my heels once in a while but when I want to hear real music with real vocals I listen to Chaka or Gladys or Aretha or Phyllis Or Minnie or Stephanie or Patti or Rose Royce or Teena or even Donna. I’m sure there’s someone else I’ve left off but you get the gist. None of these artists out now can touch them and are still derivative and influenced by them in some way. They’re just perhaps more famous in the mainstream and have more opportunities and have made more money faster but none of these current artists have anything on the previous generation. Could you imagine one of them doing a remake of Fire & Desire and being to pull it off convincingly?

Movies:
What Black Actress [non bi-racial] is considered A List and making 20+ million per picture? What Black actress “opens” a picture by herself? Not that it isn’t possible but the studios don’t allow it. And I mean actress not singer/rapper/hypenate.

5. Halle Berry: The roles that she has been taking lately are not living up to Monster Ball’s Oscar performance. Plus after she has her baby, no one’s gonna wanna see her breasts!

4. Raven Symone: Yeah yeah, she’s worth 400 mill. but Hollywood is caught up in this stick figure thing, and she’s been stuck in the kiddie/Disney image forever!

3. Beyonce Knowles: Dreamgirls showed her up for the terrible actress that she is. Plus let’s not forget that sophomore slump which her camp frantically tried to dismiss by releasing a deluxe edition with all of 1.5 new songs. Plus with Rihanna constantly changing up her image, Beyonce’s hot beat, fast singing/oversinging thing is getting old. And she’s oversaturating herself - another album due out later this year!

2. Jennifer Hudson: I believe she has talent, but that damn Clive Davis has been known to wreck people’s careers. Plus she’s not a performer! And there’s the Oscar curse.

1. Meagan Goode: Um…yeah…needs no explanation. If she wants to survive she needs to go back to doing stuff like “Eve’s Bayou”

I disagree with y’all about Kelly Rowland. She actually has received much critical praise for her acting. Her album might or might not flop, but that remains to be seen based on the moves she makes with her next single, because “Like This” is working the charts, radio stations are warming toward her, and “Like This” is currently #1 purchased single in the country! But it’s all up to her. She needs a Billboard Hot 100 hit!

And as far as Beyonce being a musical great, when music history as a whole is discussed girl groups will be brought up and with Beyonce being the leader of the biggest selling girl group in history they will be taking about her. When they talk about music from the turn of the century just like we talk about music from the 70s,80s, and 90s. It will be impossible to not bring up Beyonce Knowles. She has not reached legendary status YET but her place in musical history is secure.

HOW DID THIS TURN INTO A J-LO VS. BEYONCE DISCUSSION LOL?!

MISS B….Brandy’s album AFRODISIAC was very good. The sales were not but the quality was good.

Liyah…I didn’t say that the album was NOT good. I said that she’s been done since that album. There are alot of group’s/albums that were really good, but b/c of poor promotion and marketing, the albums don’t sell (ex. JS, Cherish, 2 Jon B. albums-even though he is a male, but I’m still a fan of his,etc.)

But do your really think that Brandy can come back and compete with the females now? Come on now, be real…I think alot of people kind of loss interest in her when she had that baby and said that she was “married” to the father when she actually wasn’t. I know she probably didn’t want her fans to think that yes she makes mistakes just like us all, but trying to lie about it and cover it up like she actually did the right thing (get married first, then had the baby), people lost respect. She should have just kept it real. Sure the media was going to probably judge her for it, but her fans who are single mother’s, would have related to her even more b/c she was going through the same thing they were.

That’s why I said that she has been done since that album.

LMAO! @ Dangerously in Love selling 6 Million in the US alone. That album has not sold over 8 Million worldwide leave alone 6 in the US. Imma find you the article where it mentions its sold only 4.3