DIDDY-DIRTY MONEY BRING "COMING HOME" TOUR TO TORONTO

Diddy in Toronto - April 2011

Although it took him 14 years to do it, Sean Combs aka Diddy finally held his first self-headlining Tour in Toronto at Kool Haus. Here with his latest project Diddy-Dirty Money, which features two Co-writers and Vocalists Kalenna Harper and Dawn Richard, the Trio performed highlights from their debut Disc, Last Train to Paris released last December.  

Fashion Icon, Designer, Rapper, Producer, Entrepreneur, Television Personality, Actor - whatever you know him as, Diddy's influence on our generation can be felt deeply, transcending multiple mediums.

Diddy-Dirty Money in an abnormally late start time for a Sunday night, took to the Stage at 11:30 PM, zipping through an energetic first-half which featured mostly new material.  Ass on the Floor, Angels, Loving You No More although more Euro-Disco than what we are accustomed to from Diddy, were the brightest moments - stylized and atmospheric.  Last Night from 2006, also had the Audience in good spirits,  but the biggest treat of all was a surprise Sade Mash-up of No Ordinary Love/Soldier of Love, plus a Cover of Prince's Something in the Water.  

Watch Diddy-Dirty Money perform a their Sade Mash-up below:

DIDDY BRINGS DIRTY MONEY TO TORONTO

Diddy-Dirty Money

Toronto, can you handle it? Diddy and his latest endeavour, Diddy-Dirty Money will be hitting-up Toronto for a stop-off on Sunday, April 17, 2011 at the Kool Haus. The Hip-Hop Trio consists of Diddy (Sean Combs), Dawn Richard (formerly of Danity Kane) and Kalenna Harper who currently are achieving some success with their Single, Coming Home which peaked at number nine in on the Billboard Hot 100 in Canada and number twelve in the U.S.

Diddy notes that this Tour will be "historical" in the Video below, marking his first time ever performing live in Toronto. He claims this Tour will be "affordable" and that he will be "doing all the Classics". "It's gonna be crazy", he assures us.  V. well then.

Check out his Video below to promote the Show:

JANELLE MONÁE PEFORMS AT 2011 CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK

Janelle Monáe at the 2011 Indies

Atlanta's Janelle Monáe after much Blog buzz is finally reaping the recognition that she deserves and Toronto clearly has fallen for her. The Future-obsessed Singer/Songwriter only recently received a much-needed profile boost with a performance on the Grammys alongside Bruno Mars and B.o.B., for many a highlight of the evening.

Monáe had the distinction of being this evening's headlining act at the eleventh annual Independent Music Awards (The Indies), capping off Canadian Music Week festivities at the historic Royal York Hotel. Slotted in at 11:00 PM, anticipation reached a feverish pitch with guests Tweeting their excitement for the Bad Boy Entertainment Artist and she did not disappoint, delivering an hour-long set which had her crowd-surfing as far as 50 ft into the audience by the end of it all.

Following her performance, Monáe peered from her Dressing Room (The Toronto Room), taking pictures with a few lucky Fans and signing Autographs. "I can only do one per person" she told us, before she shut the door quickly, wishing everyone a good night. She was scheduled to appear at The Revival for an After-party later in the evening.  Of course, I got a Photo with her!  How could I resist?

INTERVIEW: MINDLESS BEHAVIOR (PICS & VIDEO)

Mindless Behavior - Toronto, March 2011

It's been over two years in the making, but Pop Music will soon be embracing the debut of a new Teen phenomenon, Mindless Behavior. The Boy Band, three parts Los Angelenos and one part Philadelphian, have won the praise of industry Icons like Diddy and Janet Jackson, the latter who has handpicked them to join her on twelve key dates for her NUMBER ONES: Up Close and Personal Tour. Just having landed in Toronto after their first stop-off in Chicago earlier this week, I caught up backstage with the Boys of Mindless Behavior - their first ever Canadian interview - at a venue Midtown, a private Showcase organized by Faze Magazine.

Prodigy

Starting off our session with a quick Photoshoot, I was amazed firstly by the level of seasoning these Boys showed, comfortably throwing poses at the Camera - each defining who they were on a personal level. Prodigy, decidedly the lead Vocalist of the group, is confident and understated, giving me full-on Diddy. Princeton is colourful and outgoing, his hair actually reminiscent of a young Prince. Roc Royal is grounded and approachable. Ray Ray although the quietest and perhaps most endearing, is by no means shy on-stage.

The Boys explain to me the process of how they came to be Mindless Behavior with Princeton telling me, "Roc Royal and I were chosen out of 600 kids by Walter Millsap (Beyoncé) and Vincent Herbert (Lady Gaga) first, then came Prodigy from Philadelphia who was discovered on YouTube by our Choreographer. Ray Ray joined our group last.". Life hasn't been all Escalades and Red Carpets though since being signed to Interscope Records by Jimmy Iovine. He adds that "for two years we have been going to classes for Vocal Lessons, Media Training and Choreography. We're all being Homeschooled now.".