::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

Big Sam's Funky Nation has boldly established their presence at the forefront of the vibrant New Orleans music scene. Trombone powerhouse and band leader "Big Sam" Williams has been celebrated as "the top man on the slide trombone in the birthplace of jazz" by the San Francisco Chronicle and the band has been consistently touted for  "bringing a straight raw party" by Jambase . 2010 has already been a busy year for The Funky Nation, beginning with a national tour, ten days touring Greece, a recurring role in the new HBO original series Treme , various appearances, including an official showcase in Austin during South By Southwest, a very busy New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival season, and an eventful LEAF: Lake Eden Arts Festival. Big Sam's Funky Nation was branded the "Hardest Working Band At Bonnaroo 2010" by the festival's own publication, The Bonnaroo Beacon . Big Sam's Funky Nation is on fire and has n...

Grammy Nominated Singer-Songwriter-Producer Deitrick Haddon Presents Voices of Unity Cracks Top 40 With New Single “Judah (Let Me Hear You Praise) Track From Blessed & Cursed CD Soundtrack Hits Stores June 29, 2010 Gospel star Deitrick Haddon and Voices of Unity, are back in the Top 40. The multi-talented Haddon and VOU’s rock-edged, Jungle rhythm “Judah (Let Me Hear You Praise)” just reached the #40 position on the BDS Top 40 national gospel radio playlist.  The song is featured on the Blessed & Cursed ( Tyscot Records ) movie soundtrack CD that hits retail shelves and online portals June 29, 2010. The twelve-track CD features cameos by former Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams , BET Sunday Best finalist Jessica Reedy, Damita Haddon , and Men of Standard ’s Lowell Pye, among others. The CD features high tech pop anthems such as “I’m Blessed,” the retro soul vibe of “Praise In the House,” the sing-a-long jam “One Touch,” and the urgent R...

CHRIS BROWN BRINGS BET AWARDS '10 CROWD TO TEARS WITH EMOTIONAL MICHAEL JACKSON TRIBUTE PRINCE HONORED WITH SHOE LOSING LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TRIBUTE PERFORMANCE Hosted by Queen Latifah, BET Awards '10 included Performances and Appearances by John Legend, Drake, Eminem, Nicki Minaj, El DeBarge, Diddy-Dirty Money, Patti LaBelle, Alicia Keys, Black Eyed Peas, Tommy Lee, Taraji P. Henson, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Chaka Khan LOS ANGELES, June 28 -- There was not a dry-eye in the house at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 27, 2010 when Chris Brown took to the BET AWARDS '10 stage to honor the late Michael Jackson . Kanye West opened the show with a monumental performance of "Power" atop a smoky crag of rocks marking his return to the Awards show spotlight and circuit.  King of the South T.I., backed by Travis Barker on drums and flaming pyrotechnics, tore the house down with his first national TV performance since being released f...

First Album In 16 Years To Tell R&B Star’s Inspiring Story Of Redemption El DeBarge 's triumphant return to the stage at the 2010 “BET Awards ” on June 27th was only the beginning of life’s second chance for one of R&B Pop’s most distinctive and popular voices. On the star-studded show, DeBarge performed the title track from his forthcoming aptly titled album Second Chance , to be released this fall by Geffen Records , and a medley of his R&B smash hits "All This Love, "I Like It,” Time Will Reveal ," and "Rhythm Of The Night." The soulful performance by the charismatic DeBarge opened an exciting new chapter for the man whose emotional, uplifting music has romanced one generation of fans and is set to do the same for another. "I want the world to know that everybody deserves a second chance," says DeBarge. His long-awaited fifth solo album , Second Chance tells his story of redemption, which followed a period of p...

Photos: Finale shots of finalists sharing a duet and interacting with host, Kirk Franklin. Leandria Johnson has "leaped  into her destiny."  Crowned the season three winner of BET's SUNDAY BEST, the 27-year-old Orlando, FL native discovered last night literally what it means to gain from losing.  The praise and worship leader came to the New Orleans auditions with nothing but the clothes on her back, but left with the title Sunday Best, keys to a 2010 Ford SHO  and a future overflowing with professional possibilities. Viewers voting online, by text, or phone sealed her fate as the third woman to win the title in the three year run of the show, while many followers commented online they wanted her opponent to break the all female winning streak. The man to beat was 79-year-old Elder Goldwire McClendon of Philadelphia, PA.    Christians have seen Leandria Johnson's type before in the pag...

LISTEN HEAR : Click on "My Love" in The Slice Juice Player to the left to hear the HOT title cut from Tolumide's latest . TolumiDE (pronounced toe-LU-mee-day) is one of the newest artists to embrace the urban contemporary gospel genre.  With a style that is uniquely hers and a ministry that can't be compared to any current artist of the day, she's forging her own path in inspirational music.  Making her way to the U.S. by way of Nigeria and Canada, TolumiDE's sound is a mixture of urban, world, soul, funk, reggae, gospel and, of course, African rhythms, all rolled up into one.  The recipient of the 2009 African Heritage Award for Outstanding African Artist is dropping her first full-length project entitled My Love on Tuesday, May 25, 2010.  The project is being distributed nationally by Edmondson Communications, Inc. and is available in Christian bookstores and online sites including Amazon.com and iTunes .    The artist officially released...