::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

buzzz worthy. . .   Mona Austin's 5 Sentence Review Ain't Gonna Miss U When U're Gone is the latest offering from music impresario Prince and R&B star Ledisi from Prince's upcoming album, "Plectrum Electrum."  From the downbeat the vacuum of funktastic beats that nod the his hit "Nasty Girl" take you in and won't release you until the end.  (I'm not sure it let's you go even then.) The tale, told with a play on words about a lost lover called a "freak" and the bouncy  dance tune will keep you on your feet.  Snap, cap, wop and drop whatever you do, thank Prince Rogers Nelson (because that's who he is giving us; circa 1982) and Ledisi the for the funk. Click the video above the hear the track.

buzzz worthy. . . The 2012 Grammy Award nominations were announced Wednesday night in a live telecast on CBS hosted by LL Cool J.  Kanye West lead the list of nominees with seven nods, followed by Bruno Mars, Foos and  "Rolling in the Deep" Star Adele with 6.   In R&B, Ledisi was nominated for 3 Grammys including R&B Song of the Year. As usual there were some shockers that made the list, but the media was all a chatter about who did not get nominated.  "Born this Way" by Lady Gaga was not nominated for song of the year, after she debuted it in such a massive way at last year's Grammys.  However, Gaga did make the Album of the YEar category fro Even thought Kanye West has the most nods, his name is incognito in the Song of the Year" category.  Taylor Swift was also denied a spot for "Song of the Year."  In Gospel, Sunday Best newbie Leandria Johnson was nominated for Best Performance, surprisongly because her alb...

buzzz worthy. . . A family looks on. Droves of spectators arrive for the MLK Memorial Dedication on October 16 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The crowd waved four fingers and chanted "four more years" when Obama arrived. The Wallace family from Arlington,VA attend the MLK Memorial Dedication. Sheryl Crow sings Ledisi joins Stevie Wonder on stage for and encore performance.

Caesar, Franklin and Morton honored at EMF By Mona Austin Church fans, devotion, an overflow room, spirit-lifting preaching and an all star gospel music line up: It’s Sunday Morning worship a la Essence Magazine's 16 th Annual Essence Music Festival All Star Gospel Salute (EMF) .   Gospel music sometimes gets pushed to the sidelines of major events, but here it had headline status, adding sparks to the fest's Independence Day activities. After two days of empowerment and partying, thousands packed an exhibit hall in the New Orleans Convention Center to praise. The program had the feel of mega church with world class gospotainers in tow to pay tribute to the legendary  Shirley Caesar , gospel music innovator Kirk Franklin and founder of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship , Bishop Paul S. Morton and his wife Deborah. Kirk Franklin’s words were filled with emotion as he accepted the honor with his wife, children and in-laws on the stage. ...

Four-time GRAMMY nominated soul singer Ledisi, releases a joyous new music video for "Higher Than This" this week. The video, shot in Harlem NYC by director Malcom Beckford (Kenny Lattimore, Leela James), shows a young Ledisi dreaming about becoming a singer and thanking God for her gift and his love. Watch the video here . Ledisi explains the modern and soulful gospel tune from her latest album 'Turn Me Loose' (Verve Forecast) wasn't easy to write. "Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (song producers) really pushed me on 'Higher Than This'. They made me stretch as a songwriter and become a stronger woman. This song is classic Jam and Lewis." 'Turn Me Loose' debuted at # 1 on Billboard's R&B Album chart and 'Higher Than This', the second single from that album, is already making waves with plays on Steve Harvey and Tom Joyner syndicated radio programs and charting in the top 25 at UAC radio.