Kara DioGuardi Discusses Sudden Departure of Paula Abdul

Los Angeles, CA – The sudden resignation of American Idol judge Paula Abdul has left fans and the media with bewilderment. At the same time, it also left the other judges with questions and confusion, not to mention put the network in frenzy in search of an immediate replacement. After eight reigning seasons on the show, Abdul officially announced her departure this past Wednesday.

One of the three remaining judges on American Idol, Kara DioGuardi, was recently on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show discussing Abdul’s sudden departure. DioGuardi insisted that she was not Abdul’s replacement, despite speculation.

These were her comments:

“I can’t get over it. I’m completely shocked. It’s such a loss for the show, such a loss for the contestants. She’s definitely the heart of the panel.

The way I’m understanding it is that it was her choice to leave, I never was here to replace her. It would be impossible to replace Paula Abdul. She’s an incredible talent. She is somebody who helped make the show as big as it is. How could you ever replace that? If anything, she was really somebody who helped me, because it was awkward at times being the fourth person.”

DioGuardi continued to discuss the relationship that two had and how heartfelt Abdul would be to her and the contestants during the show and off the show:

The kind of heart she treated the contestants with, she treated me with last year. She was so kind to me and made me feel immediately like part of the panel. I’m hoping she’ll reconsider.

Seacrest then inquired on whether or not DioGuardi has been in contact with Abdul after her abrupt decision to resign:

“I’ve left her a lot of messages. I talked to her last week. I haven’t spoken to her this week.”

And as the cast continues to move forward without Abdul, DioGuardi discusses her excitement moving into her second season of the show:

“I am excited. You know it’s an incredible show. Last year was tough at times because being the new kid you get beat up a bit, I’m hoping that this year that people are more accepting.”

At press time, Fox Entertainment states that they are in search for a replacement to occupy Abdul’s vacant seat alongside Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi, and Randy Jackson as the remaining judges. It has already been reported that Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice), Katy Perry, Queen Latifah, and Jennifer Lopez will guest judge during the ninth season that has been set to air in January.

On the real, I’ve been wanting to add my two cents to this ever since I heard that Paula was leaving the show. It appears to me that there may be two reasons to why Paula suddenly left. One reason could be that she wanted more money, thinking that Fox would accept her offer because of her popularity on the show or two, she just got tired of doing the show altogether. Either way, she’s losing out on a lot of money; the amount that Fox offered in her contract renewal was quite substantial especially with a 30% increase from her initial contract. She really needs to sit down and reconsider her options or fire her manager.

Plies Discusses New Album Title ‘Goon Affiliated’

Atlanta, GA – The Florida goon has always been known for releasing an album months after the release of a recent album. Plies has officially released 4 albums in an incredible timespan of 3 years and the interesting part is that he probably has more material to fill another 3 albums for another 2 years. With every single album he releases, he is guaranteed to spawn at least 2 or 3 hit singles.

Approximately 9 months later, Plies has yet another album set for release and this time the title for that album, ironically doesn’t have the word ‘real’ in it. His fourth studio LP is officially entitled ‘Goon Affiliated.’ Plies recently spoke with MTV News on his tour bus while in Atlanta and discussed the meaning behind the title he has chosen to fit his next album.

These were his comments:

“Goon Affiliated, I had the pleasure of having my brother home for this album. He actually came up with the title of this album. The three previous albums, ‘real’ were incorporated into the album title. For me, we felt Goon Affiliated wasn’t too gangsta, wasn’t too soft. It was right in the middle. Kids in the suburbs could have goon friends and be goon affiliated. You could be a street cat and not call yourself a ‘goon’ but have goon homeboys and be goon affiliated. Or you could be a goon and be goon affiliated. It’s a whole diverse situation for me.”

Having his elder brother, Big Gates, home for the creative process for this album was a big deal for Plies. Gates assisted in the critiquing of the tracks and the decision behind the title:

“For me, to have my brother home … I was more than excited about … having the chance to go through the album the other day and have that other ear I didn’t have. Its some songs I put on my album that the streets ended up loving, but I had better songs than that. People will see this time, with this fourth album, there won’t be nothing like it.”

Even though the track listing for ‘Goon Affiliated’ has yet to be released, it seems as though Plies couldn’t wait to release some of the tracks he is quite fond of for his fans. The single ‘Becky’ was leaked sometime last month and has already gained much appeal from the fans and the streets, this time, Plies plans on releasing a new track based on a crime reality series:

“I got a song right now called ‘First 48, it’s wrapped around the whole TV series ‘The First 48 Hours.’ I’m telling you on the record: ‘Everybody is a goon until they catch a case/ When the detectives get to the talking/ All that gangsta shit fades away/ The first 10 minutes, dog, you started off straight/ Detective applied a little pressure, you turn around and break.’

That whole situation for me, that intro, I’m sitting here watching TV, and I didn’t know it was that many unreal dudes still left in the streets,” he continued. “I just focused on that situation. That’s one of them records on my album I call ‘choir rehearsal.’ I know everybody is gonna sing it every time I perform it.”

At press time, ‘Goon Affiliated’ has not officially received a release date, however, Plies and Slip N Slide are looking for a late September release.

Keep posted to 24hourhiphop.com for updated on Plies and ‘Goon Affiliated.’

It never ceases to amaze me that he has yet another completed album, like I said he has more than enough material to fill a complete 3 or 4 more albums. It is obvious he stay steady in the studio recording. I’m actually looking forward to release of this ‘Goon Affiliated,’ because it just might be a step up from ‘Da Realist,’ even though that was a good album, hopefully his brother added more creative input into the content process and the beat selection, cause on the real, some of his beats I wasn’t feeling altogether.

Young Jeezy Weighs In on Upgrading his Concert Performances

Cuyahoga Falls, OH – The America’s Most Wanted Music Tour presented by Young Money has been a huge success from all the fans reaction of the shows from different cities across the nation. A huge performance roster that consists of Young Money artists alongside Lil Wayne, Soulja Boy, and of course, ATL native Young Jeezy would make any young Hip-Hop fan want to attend the event. Drake was once a major act on the roster, but recently dropped out due to knee injury.

One of the tour’s recent stop was at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls in Ohio where the artists on the roster gave a spectacular performance for a crowd of thousands in attendance. One memorable performance I know the fans in Ohio won’t forget was that of Young Jeezy’s set. Now Jeezy has been known to always bring out surprise guests during his performances to living up the audience and make it more entertaining. During a performance of ‘Put On’ in Ohio, the Trapstar bought out NBA MVP, LeBron James, to the stage to be received by a deafening roar during the Kanye verse. James towered over Jeezy holding up the Roc Sign.

Jeezy recently spoke to MTV News following the completion of the amazing show and commented on his recent tour with Lil Wayne and Soulja Boy stating that the new experience has showed him that he needed to upgrade his concert performances for those that have already seen him for four or five times before.

These were his comments:

“I came up through the chitterling circuit, bruh. I remember performing on top of two speakers and that was the stage. Those were the speakers the DJs were using. Those were his speakers, and he would run through the music. I would stand on the speakers and perform. To get from that point to now … the platform is bigger, so you have to go in. These are the same cats [in the audience] that have been rocking with you for four or five years. Some seen you at clubs, some seen you wherever. You come back; it’s a big deal now. You gonna come back and rock it the same? You gotta step it up.”

In doing so, he decided to step it up a notch by bringing a live band with him on stage and also bringing out surprise guests that the crowd couldn’t even imagine being on stage with him:

I love what I do and I take it very seriously. If you in the crowd, I want you to feel the same way I feel. Now I feel bigger, better and I still feel ‘hood. I wanna bring that to this. Everybody [on the bill] tells you their piece. I wanna bring that element. I’m the only dude that can tell you ‘My President Is Black,’ ‘I’m a Soul Survivor’ and I’m from the ‘Bottom of the Map.’

The tour also included performances from artists: Jeremih, Pleasure P, and Nicki Manaj with her on solo act. The remaining tour dates for the artists will continue into the beginning of September stretching across the nation from the West to East Coast, to even Canada.

According to different sources, the final stop on the tour should be here in Miami on September 6. If that does happen, expect a full review of the show as I should be attending once I find out who the person is doing the PR. I’m looking forward to seeing who Jeezy brings out in Miami, last time during the T.I. concert he bought out Nas during the performance of ‘My President’ and shocked the whole crowd.