Hidden Beach Recordings has released a very touching video to accompany their release of Jill Scott’s cover of Bill Withers‘ 1977 hit, “Lovely Day.”

Featuring a diverse cast of children, the video serves as the official launch of the “Have A Lovely Day” campaign, aimed at promoting random acts of kindness and volunteerism.

Want to know how you can get involved? Visit havealovelyday.org

#HaveALovelyDay

Janelle Monáe was one of the many acts who performed at this year’s Nobel Peace Concert . Held on December 11, in Oslo, Norway; the star-studded musical event was held in honor of recipients Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Roberta Gbowee and Tawakel Karman.

Hosted by Helen Mirren and Rosario Dawson, the concert also featured Jill Scott and African songstress Angelique Kidjo.

Below is footage of Monáe performing ”Cold War,” “Tightrope” and a cover of the Jackson 5 classic “I Want You Back.”

“I Want You Back”

“Cold War”

“Tightrope”

Go behind the groove and into the musical spirit of the one and only Jill Scott, in this special four-part documentary presented by Hidden Beach and CentricTV.com 

Part One:

Part Two:

Read the rest of this entry »

Who is Jill Scott? To ask that now would mean you’ve been living life under a very large rock. But 11 years ago, she was a talented unknown from North Philadelphia with a sound that was new and soulful.

Released in 2000, Scott’s debut album, Who Is Jill Scott: Words and Sounds Vol. 1 was the perfect introduction into a musical space that had yet to be fully conquered: neo-soul. A veritable marriage of soul music and poetry, her knack for emoting and telling a story through song would become the formula that birthed her hits—”Gettin In The Way,” “A Long Walk Home,” and “The Way” among them.

Of course she would go on to release two more albums—Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2 and The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3—and along the way picked up a slew of awards, including the Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance.

In celebration of her music, and by popular demand, CentricTV.com will stream “The Original Jill Scott: A Documentary” on December 15th.

Twitter has become the venting bed for artists with a lot on their mind (just ask Chris Brown). Now, singer and Soul Train Award winning artist Jill Scott has taken to the social media platform to express her disappointment over not receiving any Grammy Awards nominations this year. Check out what she had to say:

“0 nominations. I’m speechless. Cover of Billboard, #1 cd in the country, tied/broke the record for Urban radio. Ok…so…ok. Wow…..”

“I don’t need a Grammy. I deserve it & I’m clear on that. The Light of the Sun was/is magical . We were lifted & filled w/ truth. I ❤ it.”

“No Miguel?!?!? Huh!!!? Again appalled.”

“excuse me?!?!? No “Love on Top”? This can’t be right…”

“My head is up. My son is healthy, my family is loving & so are my fans. God is real. Disappointments too still I come thru like a Kung foo.”

“Thank you all for ur kind words of encouragement. It’s fine. I had a moment of wtf…”

“At least my girls were nominated. Congrats Ledisi and Marsha”

Jill’s latest album, The Light of The Sun, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and has sold over 300,ooo copies in the United States alone.

Singer Miguel, who was also snubbed, took to twitter:

“I’m F*cking Pissed Yo. I don’t think I’m Gods gift to music but I know the Album or at LEAST ‘Sure Thing’ should have been Nominated.”

Soul Train Awards 2011 was a night filled with some great moments (Cedric The Entertainer’s dance opening, hello!) and killer performances (Joe, Robin Thicke and Eric Benet singing Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Reasons”–Ah-mazing). This year we honored some of music’s greatest talent. Check out the full list of winners:

Best New Artist – Miguel
Best Male R&B and Soul Artist - Cee-Lo Green
Best Caribbean Performance – Rihanna “Man Down”
Best Gospel Performance – Mary Mary “Walking”
Album of the Year – Chris Brown F.A.M.E
Best Hip-Hop Song – Nicki Minaj “Moment For Life”
Best Female R&B and Soul Artist – Jill Scott
Song of the Year – Kelly Roland “Motivation”
Record of the Year (Ashford & Simpson Songwriter’s Award) – Marsha Ambrosius “Far Away”
Best Dance Performance – Beyonce “Run the World”
Best Traditional Jazz Album – Cassandra Wilson
Best Contemporary Jazz Album – Dave Koz

Following his arrest last month at an #Occupy event in Washington, D.C.; Soul singer—and now activist—Raheem DeVaughn has released Freedom Fighter, a brand new mixtape featuring Anthony Hamilton, Chrisette Michele, Jill Scott, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Minister Louis Farrakhan, Dr. Cornell West, Ludacris, Damian Marley and more.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Soul Train Awards 2011 is fastly approaching and it’s promising to be a star-studded show.   

Added to the award show’s impressive roster of performers are Common, Cee-Lo Green, Musiq Soulchild, Chrisette Michele, Tamar Braxton, Joe, Keith Sweat, Stokely of Mint Condition and Freddie Jackson—all of whom join previously announced acts, Jill Scott, Melanie Fiona, Anthony Hamilton, and The Original 7ven (the band formerly known as The Time).

Amber Rose, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Lance Gross, Shaunie O’Neal, DJ Just Blaze, Questlove of The Roots–who is devising an modern “Soul Train” theme song—are slated to serve as presenters.

Hosted by comedian Cedric the Entertainer, this year’s show will honor the careers of  Earth Wind & Fire and the “Empress of Soul”, Gladys Knight.  

Soul Train Awards 2011 will premiere in simulcast on CENTRIC  and BET on Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 9pm/8c.

Jill Scott turns things up a notch in her new video for “So Gone (What My Mind Says)”, the latest single off her critically and commercially successful album The Light Of The Sun. With a little help from Houston-based rapper Paul Wall, Jilly from Philly serves up another groove-body roll inducing slow jam. Read the rest of this entry »

The 2011 Soul Train Awards will get a grand opening courtesy of pop-funk group The Original 7ven. Formerly known as “The Time”, this performance will mark their first time performing together in three years—they were last seen at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards back in 2008.

Hosted by funnyman Cedric the Entertainer, this year’s show will also include performances from Jill Scott, Mindless Behavior, Keith Sweat, Robin Thicke, Melanie Fiona, Grammy-award winning artist Natalie Cole—and a slew of other acts soon to be confirmed.

The 2011 Soul Train Awards will premiere on BET and CENTRIC on Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 9:00 PM.