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Monday, August 11, 2008
Sugarland’s lawyer answers suit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Current members Jennifer Nettles (left) and Kristian Bush with former colleague Kristen Hall (center), circa 2004. Photo: Julie Dennis Brothers.
Sugarland’s lawyer has issued a statement regarding the lawsuit brought by former member Kristen Hall seeking $1.5 million.
Gary Gilbert, the Los Angeles attorney for Sugarland’s Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles, released this through the band’s label publicist:
“This lawsuit is totally baseless and without merit. Among other factual inaccuracies suggested in the complaint, it is indisputable that Ms. Hall left the group voluntarily and on her own accord. We are absolutely confident that this matter will be resolved in favor of Jennifer and Kristian.”
For the background on the lawsuit, see earlier stories here and here.
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Yung Berg On Being An Atlantan, The New Album (And Yet Again) That Apology
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Add hip-hop entrepreneur Yung Berg to the ever-growing list of Atlanta music makers.
The head of Yung Boss — whose debut CD “Look What You Made Me” hits stores tomorrow - recently bought a condo in Midtown. And while he still touts his Chicago base, “I am an Atlantan now,” he told us.
And that was just the start of our brief conversation with the hitmaker (“The Business,” “Sexy Lady”).
Here’s what else he else had to say about…
What attracted him to Atlanta: “I love the party scene,” said the recent L.A. resident. “And there is just a lot, a lot, too many beautiful girls.”
That negative comment he made about dark-skinned women: “I made a mistake and I continue to apologize…I hope people will forgive me and grow with me as a person, and an artist.”
His debut CD: “This is just a real proud moment for me. I mean, to be 22-years-old and have my own record company, already have a single like ‘Sexy Can I’ [with Ray J] that’s sold 3 million copies independently, and “The Business” up on the charts, I mean, I just hope I’m inspiring other young people to go get their dreams now.”
Planning to pick up “Look What You Made Me”? Were you bothered by that inflammatory comment he made? Are you a Yung Berg fan?
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Dallas Austin - Recording Artist? (Again?)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta music, movie and TV power Dallas Austin is apparently returning to one of the earlier entries on his resume — recording artist.
As followers of the Atlanta Music Scene may recall, the Grammy winner was once a part of LaFace Records’ short-lived act Highland Place Mobsters.
Austin has since gone on to produce one of the best-selling female groups ever (TLC), among other multimillion-sellers (Madonna, Pink, Boyz II Men, Janet Jackson); a surprise hit on the wide screen loosely based on his life (“Drumline”); as well as one of the breakthrough shows for Peachtree TV (“Drumroll: SWD”).
Well, in the past few months he has also been taking the Dallas Austin Experience to the stage, and according to a record label publicist, he will make a “surprise” appearance tonight at the sold-out Gnarls Barkley/Janelle Monae show at the Variety Playhouse.
That same publicist says Austin will have a new single titled “Exasperated” hitting radio soon. Hear it HERE — or watch the YouTube video below — and tell us what you think.
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The Atlanta Music Scene on Isaac Hayes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Keisha Jackson heard the news about Isaac Hayes’ passing and almost instinctively the Atlanta singer picked up the phone to call her mother, the legendary Millie Jackson.
You see, the two recorded an album together in 1979 called “Royal Rappin’s” — “soul as hell” Keisha declares — and that’s when she first met the soul music pioneer. “And so many memories have just come rushing back to me,” she said. “This is a helluva loss for us, for my family…And my music is rooted in what Ike, Curtis [Mayfield] and Roberta Flack have done.”
“What’s even crazier is that my mother just did a movie [about three months ago] with Ike, Bernie Mac [who also just passed this weekend] and Samuel Jackson…And there is one scene with her and Bernie — two mouth almighties going at it. So now for the two of them to die in one weekend, she was almost afraid to call Sam Jackson.
“Wow. Ike’s gone. Makes you want to get it together real quick, if you don’t.”
The legend known for “Shaft” to one generation, and “Chef” in “South Park” for another, had strong ties to Atlanta, where he lived from 1979 to 1992. His son, musician Isaac Hayes III, still lives in Smyrna. The two worked together on the “Dirty ‘N the Beest,” an online radio program recorded locally.
And Isaac III has produced recordings for local hip-hop acts Lil Scrappy and the Ying Yang Twins, among others, under the name Ike Dirty.
“He did one of the Ying Yang Twins songs, ‘Drop’,” said Atlanta producer-executive Michael “Mr. Collipark” Crooms, who discovered the Twins. “Dirty’s a talented guy. And his father, man, he might have been one of the most influential artists ever when it came to just gangster music. People sample his music all of the time to give hip-hop that hard edge. Everybody talks about how influential James Brown has been in music in general, and hip-hop in particular. But Isaac Hayes made it gangster.”
And beautiful, added Patrick “Sleepy” Brown - who as a member of Atlanta’s Organized Noize “looked to Hayes for inspiration” for their work on Grammy-winning duo OutKast’s music, and others. “He was a great influence on Organized and the Dungeon Family. Just how he arranged songs and melodies…And there was so much emotion in his music: It was sometimes angry, sometimes happy, sometimes sad, but always emotional.”
Brown got a chance to meet Hayes when Organized Noize contributed to the 2000 “Shaft” soundtrack. “It was a nice experience,” he recalled. “And of course we were proud that he liked what we did.”
Brown also concedes that Hayes also inspired his look - from the bald head, to the scruffy beard, to the wide-collared, silky shirts he often wears wide open to his navel. “Yeah, all of that is on purpose. Isaac Hayes was the man. Him, Marvin [Gaye] and Curtis [Mayfield] they were the greats. And I want people to look at me and think of those ’70s crooners. Isaac Hayes is a legend in my heart.”
And Tennessee native Joi (above) plans to pay tribute to Hayes tonight at her show at Apache Cafe, and dedicate the next Tuesday Jam at Sugar Hill in Underground Atlanta to Hayes as well.
“This is hurting my feelings,” she said Sunday evening. “When I got the news, it immediately took me to sitting Indian style in the middle of the floor, as a kid, looking at the ‘Black Moses’ album cover…It’s a sad day in music, and a sad day in history. But for me personally, I’m very, very grateful he left us with such an awesome legacy.”
Ike Dirty’s publicist told us this morning that cards and condolences can be sent to: Isaac Hayes III c/o Jo Blo Entertainment P.O. Box 18900 Atlanta, Ga. 31126
Any memories of Isaac Hayes and/or his music that you want to share here? Ever run into his family members in Atlanta?
