Pitbull Reunites with Ne-Yo for New Single “Time of Our Lives”

Posted on November 16, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Pitbull is having the time of his life…

The 33-year-old Cuban American rap superstar has reunited with Ne-Yo to release a new party anthem entitled “Time of Our Lives.”

Pitbull and Ne-Yo’s collaboration, from Mr. Worldwide’s upcoming album Globalization, is dedicated to everyone who’s going through tough times in their lives.

“I know my rent was gon’ be late about a week ago/ I work my ass off, but I still can’t pay it though/ But I got just enough to get off in this club/ And have me a good time before my time is up,” sings Ne-Yo.

“Time of Our Lives” is the follow up to Pitbull and Ne-Yo’s 2011 collaborative hit “Give Me Everything.” From Pitbull’s sixth studio album, Planet Pit, the track became Pitbull’s first No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100. It also became Pitbull’s first number one single in the United Kingdom as the main artist. Additionally, it was the seventh best selling digital single of 2011 with worldwide sales of 8.2 million copies, making it one of the biggest selling digital singles of all time.

Globalization, set for release on November 24, will also feature Pitbull’s collaborations with Jennifer Lopez, Chris Brown, Jason Derulo and G.R.L. among others.

He’s been touring with co-headliner Enrique Iglesias to support what will be his eighth studio effort.

Brillon Signs with William Morris Endeavor

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Gina Brillon is one step closer to getting laughs on a bigger stage…

The Bronx-born Puerto Rican comedienne has officially signed with William Morris Endeavor (WME), according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Brillon has been performing stand-up since she was 17, serving as a headlining act at clubs throughout the country, including Caroline’s, The Comedy Store and both Los Angeles and New York City outposts of The Laugh Factory.

Montreal’s prestigious Just For Laughs international comedy festival selected her to be part of its New Faces Class of 2013, and the year before she became the first Latina to receive top honors at Stand-Up NBC, an annual showcase for diverse comedians whose alumni include Hannibal Buress, W. Kamau Bell and Brandon T. Jackson.

Her television appearances include The View, Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, E!’s Chelsea Lately, AXS’ Gotham Comedy Live and NuvoTV’s Stand Up and Deliver.

Earlier this month she generated laughs with a special set at the upfront presentation for the Jennifer Lopez network.

Brillon, who also has published poetry in The New York Post and the Daily Newsand as a singer served as the opening act for artists including Ne-Yo, will appear in comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias’ upcoming documentary The Fluffy Movie, and is preparing to shoot her first one-hour special later this year.

Santos “Odio” Breaks Records as it Soars to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Romeo Santos is breaking records with his latest single…

The 32-year-old Puerto Rican/Dominican American singer’s new single “Odio,” featuring Drake, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Latin Airplay chart, has zoomed to the top spot on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart.

“Odio” soars 39-1 on the chart, marking the biggest jump to No. 1 since the chart switched to an airplay/sales/streaming hybrid methodology (from all-airplay) in October 2012.

“Odio” becomes Santos’ seventh Hot Latin Songs leader, a run that began with “You” in 2011.

In the process, Santos has also managed to set download and streaming records.

In its first week of availability, the track sold 55,000 downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan, entering Latin Digital Songs at No. 1 and setting the mark for the highest sales week for a Spanish-language track since the chart’s inception in January 2010.

“Odio” also sets the standard for the most streams on the 10-month-old Latin Streaming Songs chart, arriving at No. 1 with 1.6 million U.S. streams, according to Nielsen BDS. Of that sum, 1.2 million clicks are from YouTube views, split between user-generated clips (68%) and all official audio and lyric video content (32%), which does not yet include a proper video clip of the track.

On the radio side, Odio,” the second single from Santos’ upcoming set Formula, Vol. 2, garnered 10.8 million audience impressions, according to BDS, to debut at No. 1 on Latin Airplay. It’s his eighth chart-topper on the list and third to open at the summit. With the No. 1 entry, Santos ties Enrique Iglesias for most No. 1 starts in the tally’s 20-year history.

On the all-format Billboard Hot 100, “Odio” claims the highest debut for a Spanish-language song in the chart’s 55-year history, arriving at No. 45 as the list’s highest new entry. Santos is just the third tropical act to rank as high in a first week, following Gloria Estefan, whose “Heaven’s What I Feel” (an English-language track) entered at No. 34 in 1998, and iconic Mambo act Perez Prado and His Orchestra, whose instrumental classic “Patricia” ranked and peaked at No. 2 the week that the Hot 100 launched (Aug. 4, 1958).

Meanwhile, Santos’ prior single “Propuesta Indecente,” which has spent four non-consecutive weeks atop Hot Latin Songs, holds at No. 2, making him the first act to hold down the chart’s top two spots since Pitbull doubled up in October 2011 (with “Rain Over Me,” featuring Marc Anthony, at No. 1 and “Give Me Everything,” featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer, at No. 2).

Pitbull & Ke$ha’s “Timber” Reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Songs Chart

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Pitbull knows how to pop it likes it’s hot…

The 32-year-old Cuban American rap superstar’s latest smash “Timber,” featuring Ke$ha, has reached the summit on yet another Billboard chart.

The dancetastic track, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early January, rose 2-1 on the Pop Songs chart this week, according to Nielsen BDS.

“Timber” marks Pitbull’s second No. 1 on the chart (among nine top 10s).

“Give Me Everything,” featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer, topped the tally for three weeks beginning on July 16, 2011.

The songs is Ke$ha’s fourth No. 1 on the chart (also among nine top 10s). Her debut single “TiK ToK” ruled for seven weeks in 2010, followed by “Your Love Is My Drug” (two weeks, 2010) and “Die Young” (three weeks, 2012).

“Timber” has topped the sales/airplay/streaming-based Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks and sold 2.5 million downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Pitbull & Ke$ha’s “Timber” Tops the Billboard Hot 100 Chart

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Timber! Pitbull and Ke$ha have chopped down a Monster hit…

After four weeks of playing second fiddle, the 32-year-old Cuban American singer and the pop starlet have climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart with their hit single “Timber,” giving Pitbull the second chart topper of his career.

The new leader had held the No. 2 spot while Eminem and featured artist Rihanna reigned for four frames with “The Monster.”

“Timber,” the No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Songs chart, adds the Hot 100’s top Streaming Gainer award, vaulting 6-2 on Streaming Songs with a 21% gain to 5.3 million U.S. streams, according to Nielsen BDS. It likewise lifts 6-2 on the subscription services-based On-Demand Songs chart (1.8 million, up 40%).

On Radio Songs, “Timber” returns to its No. 5 peak, from No. 6, with an 8% gain to 109 million all-format audience impressions, according to BDS.

“Timber” concurrently takes over atop Hot Rap Songs, which “Monster” had led for nine weeks.

Pitbull’s previous Billboard Hot 100 topper was “Give Me Everything” featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer.

Nunez to be Honored by Ne-Yo’s Compound Foundation

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Johnny Nunez is being recognized for fostering a bright future for children in the foster care system…

The half-Venezuelan celebrity photography and founder of Nubuzzphoto will be honored by singer-songwriter Ne-Yo and his Compound Foundation at the 2nd Annual Fostering A Legacy Benefit taking place Saturday, August 17.

Co-hosted by actor/comedian Kevin Hart with a special performance by Grammy-nominated singer Estelle, the gala will celebrate the strength and creativity of youth in foster care.

The night’s award ceremony will honor exemplary individuals and corporations for their leadership in foster care, adoption and community work.

Nunez, who grew up in the foster care system and was adopted at the age of five by a Puerto Rican family, is one of the most renowned celebrity photographers to work with some of the most influential figures including President Barack Obama, Jennifer Lopez, Oprah Winfrey , Mick Jagger , Swizz Beatz and Clive Davis to name a few.

“Johnny Nunez… has been an advocate of our cause for years,” states Ne-Yo, founder of the Compound Foundation.

Following the awards and its ongoing effort to support its youth in foster and group homes, Compound will ask guests to participate in its Balloon Legacy Auction raising funds for the foundation’s important programs.

Fabolous Releases the Official Video for New Song “Guess Who’s Bizzack”

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Fabolous is bizzack with brand new music and a new video…

The 35-year-old half-Dominican American hip-hop artist has released the music video for his latest single “Guess Who’s Bizzack,” his collaboration with Broadway.

Fabolous’ five-minute clip, directed by Joe Puma, begins with a series of photos of people wearing hoodies while supporting “Justice for Trayvon Martin.”

In the black-and-white video, Fabolous depicts a boyfriend who plays shows in Germany. When he arrives home, he notices that his girlfriend is acting like someone else and he confronts her about it. Meanwhile, his girlfriend thinks that her boyfriend is the one who has changed. They’re later shown arguing in a car parked in the snow.

Produced by Mally the Martian, “Guess Who’s Bizzack” is featured in Fabolous’ 2012 mixtape, The Soul Tape 2.

Fabolous is currently working on Loso’s Way 2: Rise to Power, his sixth studio album, which should arrive in stores later this year. The rapper has worked with artists like Chris Brown, Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, John Legend, Future, Ne-Yo, Trey Songz, Young Jeezy and Chrisette Michelle for the upcoming release.

Lopez Added to List of Performers at the Billboard Music Awards…

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Jennifer Lopez is preparing to dance again at this year’s Billboard Music Awards…

The 43-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actress has been added to the list of performers at the awards show, along with Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Ed Sheeran, Ne-Yo, David Guetta and “I Love It” breakthrough act Icona Pop.

The Las Vegas awards show will air on ABC on May 19 at 8:00 pm ET, live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena. 30 Rock alum Tracy Morgan will host.

Lopez and the new additions will join the previously announced performers, including Bruno Mars, Miguel, Justin Bieber, Pitbull, Christina Aguilera, Selena Gomez and the Band Perry.

Mars, Bieber and Taylor Swift are also vying for the Milestone Award, a fan-driven honor that one voter will get to present at the show alongside Cee Lo Green.

Sanchez Releases Her “Tonight” Music Video on VEVO

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Jessica Sanchez is about to “hop up on this rocket, take to the sky” in high-style…

The 17-year-old half-Mexican American singer has released the music video for her single with Ne-Yo “Tonight,” which the pair performed on last week’s American Idol results show, on VEVO.

At the beginning of the four-minute video, a stylishly dressed Sanchez sways and sashays in front of a screen projecting images of the New York City skyline.

Ne-Yo then joins the Idol runner-up to help her get the party started in a club-like scene complete with a deejay and talented dancers.

About two minutes into the video, the pint-sized singer with the big voice – who appears in five outfits – jumps in to show off her own dance moves in a high-energy dance sequence that already been watched more that 400,000 times since its release.

Sanchez’s new track is available for download on iTunes. Her debut album Me, You & the Music will be released on April 30.

Sanchez Wows with Her Performance of New Single “Tonight” on “American Idol”

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Talk about showing American Idol’s new crop of finalists how it’s done…

Jessica Sanchez, last season’s runner-up, returned to Fox’s reality singing competition to perform the first track from her upcoming debut album.

Dressed in a sparkly silver midriff-exposing top, baggy pants and silver, high-heeled high tops, the 17-year-old half-Mexican singer took the stage to sing “Tonight,” her poptastic collaboration with R&B star Ne-Yo.

It’s hard to believe Sanchez was competing on Idol just a year ago after her seasoned pro-like performance on Thursday night’s results show. She strutted her stuff across the stage with confidence, showed her Jennifer Lopez-like sass in front of a wind machine and even busted a move with her backup dancers.

Following her performance, which earned a standing ovation from Keith Urban, Nicki Minaj and Randy Jackson, Sanchez confirmed to Idol host Ryan Seacrest that she’s having the time of her life.