Showing posts with label Laface. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Laface. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Pebbles Scores Legal Victory In Defamation Case Regarding VH1 Movie 'CrazySexyCool:The TLC Story' As Judge States Case Can Proceed


Pebbles
 
Singer/songwriter Pebbles, real name Perri Reid, scored a legal victory in her defamation case against cable network, VH1 and its parent company, Viacom, who are the makers of the 2013 television movie "CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story." The judge in the case ruled the defamation case can go forward to trial. The defendants are taking a big risk not settling with Pebbles, who has sued them for $40,000,000. 

Pebbles is the former founder and manager of the most successful female singing group in history, TLC. The VH1 network made a television movie of the group's life that drew 5,000,000 viewers in its first airing. Subsequent re-airings were viewed by millions more people. The defamation was widespread and made Pebbles the brunt of hateful, threatening comments on social networking and disparaging articles in the press and blogosphere. 


TLC, L.A. Reid and Pebbles in the 1990s

The film was told from the perspective of the group, who had fallen out with Pebbles years prior, over a contract dispute. Pebbles named the group, trademarked it, auditioned girls to be members and put hundreds of thousands of dollars into making them a success. Pebbles, who was at the top of the charts at the time, also used her music industry contacts to get TLC the best producers, songwriters, video directors and choreographers. Without Pebbles, there would not have been a TLC.   

Pebbles gave the group standard industry contracts all new artists get. However, TLC accused Pebbles of robbing them, which was demonstrably false and later denied by her ex-husband, L.A. Reid, one of the co-founders of LaFace Records, the label the group recorded for during the prime years of their collective career.


TLC's television movie "CrazySexyCool"

L.A. Reid recently stated what the Judiciary Report has maintained from 2013 regarding Clive Davis' Arista Records/BMG reaping the lion's share of the money from TLC (and other recording artists). Reid stated in February 2016, "In fairness to her (Pebbles), she doesn't collect the money from record sales. Record companies do that. At that point, we were in a joint venture with Arista and BMG. So if Pebbles is accused of not paying TLC, then that means that I didn't pay her, which means that they didn't pay me." 

The movie was billed as a true story, not the standard "based on a true story" or a fictionalized retelling of events, which would grant some poetic license and let viewers know the film contains fiction. Upon viewing the film, there were historical inaccuracies and lies. Key details unflattering to TLC were also left out of the television biopic. The 40-plus page Pebbles lawsuit listed 15 lies and inconsistencies in the movie, illustrating she was defamed. For example, lies contained in the movie are Pebbles and TLC had the same lawyer and she controlled the attorney, the group were only paid $25.00 per week, Pebbles fired Chilli, T-Boz told Pebbles she had Sickle Cell prior to signing her contract and asked her to put money before her health, Pebbles did not furnish them with a copy of their contracts, Pebbles was aware Chilli had an abortion and was involved in her decision to do so. It's crazy that they lied like this for a film.

 

Pebbles

VH1 and Viacom even made a retraction stating the film was not a true story but "fictionalized" version of events. However, to those who watched the film, it was billed as a true story. Pebbles was greatly damaged by the public hatred and illegal threats directed at her the moment the film aired. VH1 and Viacom needs to be financially penalized, via punitive damages, for being reckless in what pushed Pebbles into a deep depression. 

You shouldn't play with people's lives like that because you feel you are in a position of authority to film something that's been sensationalized and is not in keeping with the truth. Pebbles and TLC had their differences, but the movie was an inaccurate and unfair retelling of what transpired. No due diligence was done, as business records in the State of Georgia, court documents from TLC's bankruptcy and the second filing of group member Tionne Watkins (T-Boz), as well as label contracts they have in their possession could have been used to develop a clearer picture of what transpired. A deposition in Pebbles' defamation lawsuit revealed the filmmakers relied solely on T-Boz and Chilli's word on what transpired and used it wholesale in the movie without fact checking.


Clive Davis and L.A. Reid. Music industry experts know, Davis is the one who made the lion's share of the money off TLC. However, Pebbles was made the scapegoat.

The movie conveniently left out Atlanta radio station reports of an argument between TLC member Chilli and Pebbles over her cheating with then husband L.A. Reid. The film was not properly researched nor did it use independent industry insiders who could have given an accurate picture of what was the standard in the music industry at the time. 

Former TLC member, the late Left Eye, real name Lisa Lopes, went on to start her own production label, emulating what Pebbles had done with her company Pebbitone. Ironically, Lopes gave TLC look and sound alike group, Blaque, the same type of deal Pebbles had given TLC. It speaks volumes. The same type of record deal is in use in the music industry today.     


TLC today is Chilli (left) and T-Boz (right)
 
In other TLC news, the group is still being slammed over collecting nearly $500,000 in donation money on Kickstarter to make a new album, that is two years later. Many people donated to the effort and nothing had materialized (R&B Group TLC Slammed On Twitter For Collecting $430,000 In Donations For An Album That Has Not Materialized).  

Additionally, the music industry is not what it once was in many ways. It is likely difficult for TLC to get the type of material they are used to from the days at LaFace. I think TLC may have taken on too much, especially with Watkins battling Sickle Cell Anemia. It's great to make an album, but it can get stressful under the wrong circumstances. 

STORY SOURCE

Perri ‘Pebbles’ Reid to proceed with $40M Viacom suit 

September 19, 2016 | 3:48am - An Atlanta federal judge has ruled that R&B act TLC’s creator and former manager Perri “Pebbles” Reid can proceed with a case to sue Viacom for allegedly defaming her in a 2013 VH1 biopic, “CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story.” Viacom filed a motion last year stating Reid had no case, but the judge ruled against it Thursday. Reid signed the band in 1991, and TLC went on to become one of the biggest-selling female acts, with hits like “Waterfalls.” They later filed for bankruptcy, and the film claims Reid only paid the group $25 a week. Reid is seeking $40 million in damages. 

Her lawyer Stacey Godfrey Evans told us: “We are thrilled with this major win against Viacom and look forward to justice . . . Ms. Reid worked hard to ensure the success of TLC, and she is ready to present that story to a jury. The negative portrayal of her in the TLC movie is simply not the truth.”...

http://pagesix.com

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L.A. Reid’s Autobiography Spilled The Secrets Of Ex-Wife Pebbles, Former Partner Babyface, Whitney Houston, The Deele And David Geffen (Among Others)











 
 


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Tuesday, March 29, 2016

L.A. Reid’s Autobiography Spilled The Secrets Of Ex-Wife Pebbles, Former Partner Babyface, Whitney Houston, The Deele And David Geffen (Among Others)


I've been reading the profanity laced book "Sing To Me" by Antonio "L.A." Reid, who is a former drummer and member of the 1980s R&B group, The Deele. It is not a good tome. It makes him look bad, as he has betrayed the confidence of people who are instrumental in his success in the music industry. In the 1980s Reid branched off and partnered with fellow Deele band member, keyboardist/vocalist/songwriter, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds to form the production duo L.A. and Babyface. In the mid 1980s, when they were just getting started a production team, a music executive referred them to a then up and coming singer, Pebbles, who was about to make her debut. 

Reid had pitch a catchy, funky R&B/pop song entitled "Girlfriend" to Vanessa Williams, who was also about to make her music debut after the terrible Miss America scandal had destroyed her life at the hands of an unscrupulous, money hungry photographer, who sold private, compromising nude photos taken of her years prior in university. Williams verbally agreed to record the song. L.A. and Babyface met Pebbles after Williams had been offered the song. 

When they met Pebbles, Babyface developed a crush on her (and it showed when they sang together that he was smitten with her) thought the song "Girlfriend" was more suited to her than Williams. Pebbles gave them $18,000 for the song and two of her cars (a Mercedes and a Jaguar) in exchange for the tune. The song became a smash. Williams was understandably upset, but she too later went on to great chart success on her sophomore album with the smash "Save The Best For Last." 

Pebbles, L.A. & Babyface became fast friends. Pebbles took them out to champagne dinners and showed them a luxury lifestyle they were not used to as struggling musicians. When she married Reid not long after and they moved to Atlanta to start the LaFace records label, with a deal from Clive Davis' Arista, Pebbles was an instrumental part of the companies success, but for years L.A. took and got all the credit. Pebbles put together, named, styled and placed TLC with producers, songwriters and video directors, which culminated into a big debut. 

Pebbles discovered the singer/songwriter, Tony Rich, who had a massive hit with the song "Nobody Knows It But Me." Pebbles styled Toni Braxton and helped to edit her music videos. Pebbles discovered the group/production team Organized Noize, who went on to produce many urban hits. Pebbles helped him when he had nothing. He even admits it in the book. However he kept taking credit for what she and others did. 


TLC, L.A. Reid and Pebbles in the 1990s

Another example of this is in one chapter he takes credit for TLC, when it was Pebbles' project from start to finish (but claims she took over TLC from him, which is a lie). In the book Reid takes credit for placing the song "Unbreak My Heart" with LaFace recording artist, Toni Braxton, but since the 1990s, Clive Davis was credited with finding the song and sending it to LaFace for her, stating her album lacked a big hit. 

In a 1990s interview on the BET television show "Video Soul" Babyface indicated Reid had ripped him off. Babyface stated he wished he had paid as much attention to the business side of their partnership, as Reid had done. Reid stated in the book Babyface asked for an audit, but was unable to turn up any evidence. However, Babyface did most of the songwriting work, but because they were a production duo, Reid's name went on every song as well. Reid did write a few hits, but Babyface did the bulk of the work in the studio. 

Reid later admitted in an interview that he was privileged to have his name on Babyface songs. It's pretty telling that when Babyface terminated the music production partnership, he went on to write many songs and Reid never wrote another tune. When you're a true songwriter, you don't stop writing because you broke up with your production partner.

Reid takes full credit for the success of LaFace Records when others were instrumental in the company's success. Ironically, when things went bad with LaFace in the early 1990s, beginning with TLC, all the blame was placed on Pebbles, despite the fact they were not getting properly paid by parent company Arista Records and Reid claims in the book she took over the project from him. TLC were never signed to LaFace directly, as they were Pebbles' group she put together. 

Reid allowed, Pebbles, the mother of his child, the woman that helped him when he was broke, to be the scapegoat for what happened, in a terrible situation that completely devastated her. He threw his wife under the bus, letting her be the scapegoat, over not wanting to damage his position in the music industry. He sacrificed her. He put his career ahead of his family and that's not cool (a family he admits he walked out on, children included, in the middle of the night without telling them).

For two decades he let people slander and slam Pebbles on television, in print and online and never said a word. That woman was devastated and he looked the other way. I never respected that. He finally spoke up for her last year stating she is not a thief and did not rob TLC. The group found it out as well, as after they pushed Pebbles out of the picture, they were still broke for years and decided to hold Arista CEO Clive Davis at gunpoint.


Clive Davis and L.A. Reid
 
I admit, TLC being paid $33,000 per year for three years, while Arista made over $100,000,000 off the group is greedy and crazy on the parent company's part. Arista should have compensated TLC more from the beginning of their success when they saw the group was turning a profit. They weren't losing money on TLC. Arista was not fair in this regard.  
 
Reid was also cheating on Pebbles during their marriage. He even admitted writing the 1989 hit song "In The Heat Of The Moment" about seducing his secretary in his office bathroom. The song was a R&B hit for the band After 7. This occurred while he was married to Pebbles, as that was the first time in his life he could afford a secretary and the song was written and released shortly after his marriage to Pebbles. As stated in the column previously, years ago, a cousin of Reid's in Atlanta, who is now a preacher, told me he was cheating on Pebbles with different women. Prior to meeting Pebbles, Reid was going after several women as well. He is a promiscuous man. Marriage seldom changes such a man.

Reid and TLC member Rhozanda "Chili" Thomas played down what went on between the two of them, but they were intimate. That's how Chili got in TLC, with Reid kicking up a fuss over the original third member, Crystal, in order to boot her in favor of his mistress. Reid claims he doesn't know where the story started, but years ago a website wrote about an Atlanta radio station broadcasting the story of Chili and Pebbles being at odds arguing over L.A. Reid's cheating.

In his book, Reid also indicates Chili "kept making eye contact" with him at an audition where she was a backup dancer. Chili's inappropriate behavior with L.A. is apart of the reason the love of her life, TLC producer Dallas Austin, did not show her the full attention he craved. In the TLC biopic, Reid is shown flirting with Chili and it upsetting his then wife Pebbles. L.A. and Chili are playing the public for fools regarding what transpired. 

There is a chapter in the book that puts out the private business of the late, legendary singer, Whitney Houston. Reid wrote of an incident in his book regarding Houston showing up at his and Pebbles' Atlanta home and later began watching a movie with him at night while Pebbles was away on tour:

"Whitney came back to Atlanta one week later and she knocked out these two songs like they were nothing—pow, pow—only now we were used to it. She came back a third time to do some fixes. Aaron had been born and Pebbles was out touring behind her new “album. Whitney called from her hotel to tell me her room had been broken into and she felt uncomfortable at the hotel. Could she use the guesthouse? She showed up with her manager and running partner Robyn Crawford. It was late. I put on a movie in the theater to watch and the phone rang. It was Pebbles, who quickly became upset when she learned Whitney was there. 

“Whitney’s in my house?” she said. “We’re not having that. My husband is not going to sit in my house late at night watching a movie with another girl.” I tried to explain, but she threw a tantrum and I started to get angry. I told her she had nothing to worry about, this was completely safe, platonic, and just us musicians. I got loud and Whitney overheard.
“She’s trippin’, huh?” she said. 

Whitney offered to leave, but I told her my responsibility was to take care of her and everything would be fine. “I don’t want to be in the middle of y’all’s mess,” she said.
Pebbles kept calling back and finally I took the phone off the hook. I was embarrassed. I pride myself on being a professional. I was starting a business, and was now working with—and entertaining—major celebrity superstars. I didn’t need this bullshit. Whitney went to the guesthouse to sleep. 

The next day, Pebbles came home and had attitude with me. She tried having attitude with Whitney, too, but Whitney put out that fire in, like, two seconds. I don’t know what she said, but everything quickly was cool. Whitney invited us all—me, Pebbles, Babyface and his new girlfriend, Tracey (he and his wife had divorced)—to her place, so we all piled on a Delta jet and spent the weekend in New Jersey.'" - L.A. Reid's "Sing To Me"

What was the necessity of including that story in the book. Houston is gone and can't defend herself. Pebbles is no longer your wife. She and Pebbles ended up becoming great friends to the day Houston died. They were even bridesmaids at each others weddings (when Houston wed Bobby Brown and Pebbles later remarried, tying the knot with baseball player, Otis Nixon). Reid betrayed their confidence in putting the story in the book for sensationalism purposes, in order to sell more copies. I find it hard to believe either woman would want that story out there. It was personal. 

It is understandable that a woman would not feel comfortable with the idea of another woman, especially one she does not know well (yet), watching a movie alone with her husband at night in her house, while she is away. Most women would not be happy about that. However, Pebbles didn't know Houston was actually in Atlanta to work and see Bobby Brown, who she had begun dating. Brown became the love of Houston's life. Pebbles misunderstood (and considering L.A. Reid had been dating singer Paula Abdul and others at the same time he was seeing her before they got married, it is easy to see why she was concerned, as you can't trust a man behaving like that). 

Reid also wrote of how in a jealous rage, Pebbles, whom he was dating at the time, smashed up all the glass furniture in his apartment using a broom, as he had Paula Abdul in his place at night on a date. In the 1980s, Abdul was known as an industry mattress. She was the mistress of married Jackson 5 member, Jackie Jackson. Abdul also had a relationship with Arsenio Hall that was lampooned on television.  

Reid also brought up how he took over Arista Records, pushing Clive Davis out of his job, when the latter merged with BMG. I am not fan of Davis or Sony (Davis' Arista was bought by Sony) , due to their chronic acts of copyright infringement in ripping off legendary and lesser known songwriters, producers and artists, but Reid was a Judas to take Davis' job, when the latter was forced out. 

When so many in the industry had rejected funding LaFace Records in the late 1980s, such as David Geffen, Davis was the one who gave them funding. It was a betrayal to stab him in the back and take his job. Much like he betrayed his wife Pebbles...and partner Babyface. In the book, Reid also arrogantly slammed the group the Deele, whom he got his start with, as lazy, for putting their family ahead of the group (in wanting to go to a family party instead of doing more retakes in the recording studio). Reid slammed Janet Jackson in the book. He also took aim at music mogul David Geffen.

Reid has exhibited a pattern of betraying and bad mouthing people who have greatly helped him in life and that's not a good thing (Babyface, Pebbles, Clive Davis, The Deele). I implore my readers not to take that path. Do business the right way. Don't betray or step on people because you can, as it will come back to you in life. Engaging in ruthlessness and betrayals may seem like it is working at first, but make no mistake, everything people do in life, whether good or bad, comes back to them. You reap what you sow.


TLC's television movie "CrazySexyCool"

Side Bar: some of you are probably wondering why I dislike L.A. Reid. I disapprove of his treatment of others, as mentioned above. Additionally, in the infringements of my preexisting copyrights that occurred, a lawyer discovered that my preexisting copyrighted catalog, that industry criminals gained an illegally made copy of through Madonna and her hacker, has been passed around A&R departments at record labels. A second source discovered Reid is one of the people who is in illegal possession of unlawful copies made of my preexisting copyrighted catalog and illegally used items on artists at labels he has been working with, in criminal violation of the law.

As written in the column previously, my copyrighted catalog contains outlines for biopics I want to make ("Alleged Crime Scene Knife Conveniently Found While The People v. OJ Simpson Movie Airs On Television" and "Newly Unearthed Knife In The OJ Simpson Case Is A Fraud With No DNA (Confirming Previous Site Claims)"). Thus far, Madonna, who had my catalog hacked and illegally copied, has gotten those biopics made (and psychotically had her name included in some of the finished biopics that aired on TV, in people's life stories that had nothing to do with her). One of the biopics I wanted to write and direct is TLC's story (the one that aired on VH-1 is not written or directed in the manner I would have done it, as it is slanderous, defamatory and contains lies). 

Firstly, TLC is free to do their life story, as is anyone else, provided an unauthorized production does not use the subject's copyrighted music, logos or any other intellectual property without permission. However, VH-1's TLC biopic had a new song called "Meant To Be" which is an infringement of a PREEXISTING song of the same name in my Library of Congress registered copyrighted catalog. 

Secondly, my name is in VH-1's TLC movie as a character, when I don't know them. I saw T-Boz in a Miami mall once and she and her then boyfriend were looking me in the face, which I had wondered about at the time, but ignored it. However, that does not constitute knowing someone.

Thirdly, Rhozanda "Chilli" Thomas blocked me on Twitter.com, when she's not supposed to even know who I am, I never followed her on the site and I never tweeted anything at her. People block others on Twitter who tweet threats or harassing statements at them. I never did that, not tweeting at her at all. Chilli went out of her way to find my Twitter name and block me, when I don't know her, never met her, never contacted her and did not tweet anything at her and had no intention of doing so. The whole thing is just weird and it's due to all that stealing that went on in the background on their end.

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Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Toni Braxton 'Unbreak My Heart' Lifetime Biopic Movie Glossed Over Many Pertinent Facts



Toni Braxton's "Unbreak My Heart"

On Saturday January 23, 2016, Lifetime aired the Toni Braxton biopic "Unbreak My Heart" executive produced by the singer. The film glossed over a number of pertinent facts in Braxton's life and those associated with her music career. Audiences online on social networking interpreted LaFace Records CEO and music producer, L.A. Reid, as the bad guy, blaming him for Braxton's financial downfall.

Some on social networking also slammed Reid's ex-wife, former recording artist and music manager, Perri "Pebbles" Reid, for Braxton's financial fall as well. However, Pebbles was not a party in the record deal. A few also blamed singer/producer, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, who was the co-owner of LaFace Records.

LaFace's parent company, Arista Records, largely owned by music veteran, Clive Davis, made the lion's share of the money. As previously stated in the column, subsidiary label deals, such as the one LaFace Records and Arista Records entered into via a joint venture, always ends up in the artist getting less money, when one of the two other parties does not take a lesser share of the profits. The only way such a deal works to all involved is if the subsidiary and or parent company takes a few points/percent less in the deal. 

All these recording contracts are is a chance to earn money and become famous. An artist is given a loan "an advance" to record an album and cover basic expenses, but that money is recoupable from future record sales. This means it is a loan the entertainer has to pay back before you see any profit as an artist.

When you record for a label like LaFace Records, they will get you the best producers, songs and music videos money can buy. This means your budget will be far greater than a label with lesser resources. However, you have to sell enough albums and singles to recoup those costs from the loan "advance" before you see any financial profit. None of it is guaranteed.


Toni Braxton today

What you are paying for with a big label is their connections via access to top producers, video directors and promotional opportunities on famous television shows and music channels. Indie labels (independent/smaller labels) usually have far less or no connections, which means less people will hear your work (however, the internet and social networking is evening out the playing field where anyone can access your music and videos). 

If your album flops, you don't have to pay the loan ("advance") back. Therefore, you aren't on the hook for loan "advance." However, your album flopping means you will lose your record deal and not have a career as a recording artist (unless you get another deal, which only happens half the time after a flopped debut). The record company retains the view they are putting hundreds of thousands of dollars (sometimes it hits over a million) into launching the recording artist's career, with no guaranty they will see any return on their investment, which entitles them to the greater share of the profits.

It's an industry where you can walk in off the street penniless and become a millionaire entertainer. Labels believe they are to be handsomely rewarded for extending the opportunity of a lifetime, which they should be. However, record deals start off with a very low royalty rate and truthfully, the labels could give a bit more of a percentage to the artist to start. 

Artists need lawyers to properly explain to them what they are signing  Artists also need good, honest managers who have a proper understanding of the music industry and its practices. Braxton's lawyer and manager failed her in this regard. After Braxton's debut album was successful, her manager should have renegotiated her record deal with the assistance of her attorney.


Still from the TV movie "Unbreak My Heart"

Braxton sold 4,000,000 copies of her debut, a certified hit record, which qualified her for a higher royalty rate. LaFace did not tell her this information (though they knew). Neither did her manager and separately lawyer, who may or may not have known. Once again, a more experienced manager and an entertainment industry lawyer would have known these things.

Braxton also made a big mistake in embarking on a massive tour, running up a $4,000,000 tab on staff, travel and sets, with no sponsor. An experienced manager would have known this. Another option would have been Braxton being an opening act for a largely successful veteran artist, where she would not have to shoulder all the cost for an entire tour.

The record industry in America is suffering from its lowest sales to date. People in America are not buying music like they used to do. Recording budgets are lower than ever. Many perks that artists used to enjoy are gone. If any of Braxton's hit records had been released today, they would have sold far less records than she did in the 1990s.

Many modern artists are very cocky and rude with older artists who are no longer enjoying hit records. However, most artists today have even shorter careers than stars in the 1980s and 1990s. It's a cycle and it's shorter than ever. Thing is to be smart about your entertainment career and fame. Learn all you can before you go into it and don't spend unwisely.


A tweet on Twitter regarding the bad casting in the TV movie "Unbreak My Heart" 

Braxton stated this film was a chance to show the world she wasn't some dumb artist, who spent all her money. Braxton is blaming her financial falls on LaFace and Artista. However, the movie glossed over the fact that after LaFace gave her $22,000,000 and renegotiated her recording contract for a higher royalty rate, she did some massive personal spending, as reflected in her second bankruptcy filing.

Even fellow LaFace recording star Usher stated Braxton spent too much money, stating if you are given "$100 you don't spend $99." Braxton has been living lavishly for years, but it is always good to save for a rainy day. When one does a tour or business venture, register it as a corporation, that way you aren't personally liable if things go wrong. Make sure you obtain proper insurance and disclose all pertinent facts. Braxton left out some of her health ailments in trying to obtain insurance, as most companies will not underwrite a star with a Lupus created heart condition.  

The film also left out some of Braxton's sex partners, making her look like a virgin until she met her husband Keri Lewis. Braxton's past sex partners include actor Shamar Moore and L.A. Reid's brother, Bryant Reid, among others. Toni and sister Tamar Braxton were known in the industry for being promiscuous at that time.

LaFace was right to try to rein in Braxton's overly sexual image. People have heavily criticized Braxton for her overt sexual content and raunchy appearance. 99 percent of artists who become true legends, don't have content that is sexually explicit. It detracts from the music and is considered a gimmick.

At the end of the day, Braxton's financial troubles have overshadowed her career. She is most remembered for her financial fall and not her music. No artist wants that, but that is what has happened in this case. Braxton and her family have also strayed far from their roots and it has caused them a world of emotional pain. Braxton's dad, a minister, cheated on her mom in conduct that almost destroyed their family. The Braxton sisters are now mixed up with Hollywood cults, rendering them spiritually confused and vulnerable to trouble.

Braxton's story should be a learning experience for anyone seeking to become an entertainer. Keep your feet on the ground, trust no one in the industry and save money when you can. Braxton's career went into freefall in the space of a few weeks when her album "More Than A Woman" flopped. She has not had a hit since "Secrets." That's how the industry goes. You have to make the most of success while it's there and not be fooled into thinking money will always be coming in from an entertainment career. Spend your money wisely and invest it properly. 

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Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Sony Music's L.A. Reid Blasted Online For Not Paying $2,000,000 Bail Money For Rapper Bobby Shmurda


Bobby Shmurda
Sony Music executive and LaFace Records co-founder, Antonio "L.A." Reid, is being slammed on social networking and in the blogosphere everyday for not paying $2,000,000 in bail money to have 20-year-old rap artist, Bobbi Shmurda, released from Riker's Island prison in New York, where he and fellow gang members have been locked up for the past 10-months.

Bobbi Shmurda, real name, Ackquille Pollard, is up on a host of charges that include murder, attempted murder, drug trafficking and possession of illegal weapons. Shmurda had the hit of 2014 with the track "Hot Nig*a" which was independently written, recorded and released. Sony Music got into a bidding war with other record labels and won. Shmurda was signed to a multi-million dollar deal. His upfront "advance" as it is know in the industry was said to be $1,000,000. 

However, the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) and New York Police Department moved in on Shmurda and his GS9 crew, who are affiliated with the Los Angeles street gang the Crips. The feds are accusing Shmurda and company of being very violent and dangerous criminals. As such, Sony Music declined posting $2,000,000 bail. They did so for fear of bringing down the police on them over an artist who has not made the company the equivalent of his bail money.  

 

L.A. Reid

Reid was quoted as stating, "I'm crazy about that kid and I think about him often, but we seriously don't make the money we used to make. That's a fact of life. Bobby Shmurda is not the same as Snoop Dogg and Murder Was The Case, who's coming off The Chronic and his first album. It's a different era, ya know? And we're a publicly held corporation. We just aren't in the same position we were in back in those days. So, it's a different day."

Reid, tired of the bad publicity centering on him online regarding the incident further stated, "It made me feel like people don't know anything about my business. It's really not their business. That's the truth about it. We're not elected officials here, and we're not at liberty to disclose how we do business." Shmurda expressed his disappointment stating, "When I got locked up, I thought they were going to come for me, but they never came."

Shmurda's lawyer Matthew Middleton slammed Reid and Epic/Sony stating, "These companies for years have capitalized and made millions and millions of dollars from kids in the inner city portraying their plight to the rest of the world. To take advantage of that and exploit it from a business standpoint and then turn your back is disingenuous, to say the least."


A tearful Bobby Shmurda being perp walked in December 2014 after committing a series of serious crimes with his crew that feds have evidence of via wiretaps, telephone records, computer files, emails, witness statements and data from active surveillance that was conducted for the past few years

The fact of the matter is Hollywood is a den of thieves and criminals. There are industry members who have committed and commissioned vicious assaults, murders, thefts, acts of burglary, hacking, phone hacking and issued death threats. Hollywood doesn't care. They are only in it for the money, in a evil business that is reaping what it sowed, via its ongoing rapid decline and massive financial losses. 

STORY SOURCE

L.A. Reid Defends Epic Not Paying Bobby Shmurda's Bail

By Daniel Kreps October 16, 2015 - L.A. Reid has defended Epic Records after the label came under fire for their reluctance to pay Bobby Shmurda's $2 million bail. Epic Records has come under fire in recent months for their refusal to pay the $2 million bail for Bobby Shmurda, the "Hot Nig*a" rapper behind bars since December 2014 awaiting gun and drug charges. However, Epic CEO L.A. Reid defended the label for not bailing out their signee, telling the Rap Radar podcast (via Vibe) recently, "It made me feel like people don’t know anything about my business. It's really not their business. That's the truth about it. We're not elected officials here, and we’re not at liberty to disclose how we do business."

Reid admitted that "I'm crazy about that kid [Shmurda] and I think about him often," but the state of the music industry doesn't make it financially possible or practical for Epic to bail out the Shmoney Dance creator. "We seriously don't make the money we used to make. That's a fact of life," Reid said. "Bobby Shmurda is not the same as Snoop Dogg and Murder Was The Case, who's coming off The Chronic and his first album. It's a different era, ya know? And, we're a publicly held corporation. We just aren't in the same position we were in back in those days. So, it's a different day."

When Shmurda was first arrested in December 2014, the rapper revealed in a New York Times profile, "When I got locked up, I thought they were going to come for me, but they never came." The rapper's lawyer Matthew Middleton also blamed the label for not bailing out their artist, saying, "These companies for years have capitalized and made millions and millions of dollars from kids in the inner city portraying their plight to the rest of the world. To take advantage of that and exploit it from a business standpoint and then turn your back is disingenuous, to say the least."
 

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R&B Group TLC Slammed On Twitter For Collecting $430,000 In Donations For An Album That Has Not Materialized


TLC's Kickstarter page reveals 4,201 people donated $430,255 for the group to make its last album

Atlanta R&B duo, TLC, was slammed and mocked on the social networking website Twitter this past Sunday, for soliciting donations for an album that has not materialized. In January of this year, TLC promised an album by October 2015, which as you can tell, was last month. A fan asked TLC member T-Boz about his money ($5) and the album and she told him to call Kickstarter and get his money back (LOL).

The group used Kickstarter to collect $430,000, which is a significant amount of money to raise on said site. It set a record for raising the sum in two days. However, nearly one year has past and the album has not been released. There are indications the CD has not even been made yet, as there has been no real news on the songs being recorded. For $430,000 rapper Chief Keef could make 430,000 albums (I’m kidding). Not to mention, Chief Keef‘s music videos don’t cost more than 99 cents each to make, but he became a millionaire anyway (LOL).

 
The tweet that triggered the trouble and resulted in a #TLCisGoingToJailParty hashtag on Twitter that saw the group made funny of in hilarious ways

After yesterday’s problems, TLC announced an album will be released next year. TLC’s last album, 2002’s “3D” did not fare well on the charts or in sales. Since the 2002 death of former group member, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, who died in a car accident, their sales have plummeted. The public has not gotten used to the idea of TLC being a duo, after achieving multi-platinum success as a trio.

Times have also changed since TLC’s last successful CD, 1999’s “Fan Mail.” Due to advances in technology, it’s easy to make an album now for $430,000 (you could make more than one for that figure). However, the caliber of producers TLC are used to working with will still charge $250,000 to $500,000 per song. The average album contains at least 10 songs, so this poses a slight problem. TLC will have to find new producers, who charge far less…or give the project to one of their former producers, such as Jermaine Dupri, who is broke and bankrupt and might do the whole project for $200,000. However, Dupri hasn’t had a hit in a long time and was sued several times for copyright infringement.


TLC

During TLC’s hay day, the music industry was booming in the sales department. TLC’s top album “CrazySexyCool” sold over 10,000,000 copies in America and 20,000,000 worldwide. That does not happen anymore. The American public has turned off the music industry in the United States. The music industry in America is now a shell of its former self in terms of business and creativity. Albums that go number one in America now often sell 50,000 copies in their debut week, when CDs used to sell 500,000 to 1,000,000 in that same time frame a decade prior.

Another noted change is the quality of music has greatly declined. Many artists that have been signed to deals do not have talent. They were signed for looks and nothing else. Another issue is many artists, songwriters and producers are stealing music and the public in turn are refraining from buying, opting to download songs for free on illegal sites. Hey, you lead by example.

New independent artists are making albums for $5,000 (in some cases less) but they do all the work themselves or in tandem with hungry new producers, who are willing to accept less money up front with the hope of receiving greater royalties constituting the real money if the project is a success.

 

Chilli blocked me on Twitter when I've never tried to speak to her nor have I ever been following her on the site

Side Bar: As Twitter slammed and made fun of TLC yesterday, I went to the ladies pages to see their reaction. There was not much of one on T-Boz’s page (Tionne Watkins). However, I discovered yesterday that Chilli (Rozanda Thomas) has blocked me (I couldn't stop laughing). However, I had never asked her a question on Twitter or followed her account. My only encounter with any member of TLC was in a Miami mall when T-Boz and then boyfriend Dalvin of Jodeci stared me in the face like they knew me.

It is strange (Chilli) to block someone who is not contacting you and I haven't contacted them in any way. The whole thing stems from me trying to uplift TLC’s former manager, Pebbles (Perri Reid), who is now a Christian minister that was savaged in their biopic and online. I also tweeted at Pebbles on Twitter to clear up a false story online by a man claiming to be her secret son, which I did not believe to be true, as she is a woman who proudly shows off her kids to the public. Pebbles responded and cleared up the story. Chilli has me off for that as she still has animosity towards Pebbles.

Chilli also has me off for writing about her affair with Pebbles’ ex-husband, former LaFace Records co-owner, L.A. Reid (I met Reid's cousin in Atlanta years ago through a good friend and she told me some things, nothing that betrayed him, just the facts that were a bit sad and it had to do with his cheating during his marriage to Pebbles). I didn’t agree with what Chilli did in that she edged out former TLC member Crystal Lewis by having sex with L.A. Reid, behind Pebbles’ back, which got her placed in the group, in what was a betrayal of the woman who made her famous (Pebbles). That must have been very hurtful.

I know they all had their disputes with each other, but Pebbles was blamed for everything, when Clive Davis is the one who received the lion’s share of the money (the group figured it out later and held him at gunpoint in his New York office demanding their money). Now the deal Pebbles gave TLC is common in the American music industry, yet she was vilified for it by the group. Here’s hoping one day they will all make peace with each other. Life is too short for all the strife.

Side Bar 2: Chilli, for blocking me when I didn‘t even tweet at you, may your baby hairs never lay flat on your forehead again. To my readers: trust me, for one black woman to say that to another, it’s a terrible insult (LOL). It’s like one white woman telling another white woman, may you never enjoy another Starbucks again!

STORY SOURCE

Black Twitter Throws #TLCIsGoingToJailParty After Possible Album Swindle [Photo]

Nov 2 2015, 8:17am - At the top of year, TLC launched a Kickstarter to raise money for a new album. They easily reached their goal but that album? Yeah, it never happened. They could be taking their time here. It’s easy to throw an album together after you raised over $430,000 from fans, but maybe they want to give you your money’s worth? At the same time, it probably doesn’t help that T-Boz flipped on a fan for trying to get a refund. The response was #TLCisGoingToJailParty, a hashtag born from anguish, and pure hilarity. TLC is now promising a new album next year.

 

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Monday, October 20, 2014

Tamar Braxton Jealous Of Toni Braxton And Resents Her Other Sisters Throwing Them Out Of Her Concert

Tamar Braxton (center)
Recent episodes of the reality show “Braxton Family Values” reveal singer Tamar Braxton behaving badly in her treatment of her sisters Trina, Towanda and Traci. This transpires while big sister, Grammy Award winning singer, Toni Braxton, looks on perplexed at what fame has done to her younger, not to mention louder, sibling. 

Tamar, so full of hype over her career finally taking off after 15-years of less than successful attempts, threw her sisters out of her concert, for surprising her on stage. Tamar called them “motherf*****s” “bit**es” and “sparkly Teletubbies” (basically calling them fat) before her tour manager unceremoniously ejected them from the venue. 

Toni Braxton (right) being told about Tamar Braxton having her sisters ejected from her concert

Tamar is painfully jealous of her sister Toni Braxton, who became a household name in the 1990s and enjoyed much success as a recording star at LaFace Records. That jealous keeps seeping through on the show. You also see why LaFace chose Toni, a good vocalist and piano player, who is relatively easy to work with. Tamar has the bigger voice…and ego. The latter producers are wary of in artists.

Ironically, if it weren’t for Toni, Tamar wouldn’t have a record deal, as she put the family’s name on the map and took her sisters on tours with her. Then Toni’s sisters, sans Traci, received a record deal and earned two moderately successful R&B hits "So Many Ways" "Only Love" and "The Boss." 

 
Tamar Braxton's self-titled debut CD did not farewell in 2000 due to the weak lead single "Get None" but had the impressive song "If You Don't Wanna Love Me." However, sales were low and Tamar was dropped from her record deal. However, her 2014 CD "Love And War" has become a hit and it has gone straight to her head.

Not to mention, Toni introduced Tamar to music manager, Vincent Herbert, who has now helped to make her famous. You should thank God for your sister. She’s been a blessing to you. Your other sisters have been there for you as well.
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Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Pebbles Files $40,000,000 Lawsuit Over TLC Biopic 'CrazySexyCool'


TLC's television movie "CrazySexyCool"

Singer and former music manager, Perri "Pebbles" Reid has filed a $40,000,000 lawsuit against Viacom, over the VH-1 Biopic "CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story." Reid states she was defamed in the movie and blamed for the music group's financial woes, which continued well after TLC left her management company. 


TLC, LA Reid and Pebbles

Reid's lawsuit states she was defamed in a biopic billed as a true story, painted as, “A conniving and dishonest business woman.” Within weeks of airing the biopic, VH-1 and Viacom issued a retraction stating it was not a true story but a fictionalized account. However, talks broke down and Reid kept her word and sued a week ago.


Lionel Martin, TLC, LA, Babyface and Pebbles

If it weren't for Pebbles there would be no TLC. That's an undeniable fact. It was her brainchild, she named the group, selected its members and spent her money developing them for a record deal. Pebbles used her connections to secure a deal with LaFace/Arista and found top producers to work on their debut CD.

 

TLC and their kids at the premiere of their biopic

TLC received standard contracts, but Pebbles' error was in not starting her own subsidiary label with MCA, which she was signed to at the time as an artist . With LaFace and Arista in the picture, in addition to her own production company Pebbitone, the pie was being split a lot of ways.


TLC at biopic premiere

It's a shame things worked out that way, but the lion's share of the money went to Clive Davis and Arista, not Pebbles. That's the way those subsidiary label deals work. Other artists on LaFace ran into financial trouble as well due to it. 

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Friday, November 22, 2013

Pebbles Being Blamed For TLC Being Dropped From Sony Music's Epic Records But The Truth Is...



TLC

After a long absence from the music scene, R&B girl group TLC, resigned with Sony Music, this time landing at Epic Records, from Clive Davis' Arista, which was absorbed into the major label. They were set to release new material in 2014.

Today it is being claimed, due to their controversial "CrazySexyCool" The TLC Story" biopic that aired on VH-1, which led to the network issuing a retraction regarding the negative portrayal of the group's former manager and mentor, Pebbles, who launched them to fame, the group has now been dropped from Epic/Sony.


Pebbles
 
Fans sites are stating it is because of Pebbles and claims TLC member Rozanda "Chilli" Thomas had an affair with her mentor's then husband, L.A. Reid, while they were married. The Judiciary Report can confirm based on a very credible source that Chilli and L.A. Reid had an affair, which the site has maintained for years.

However, the low sales of TLC's current CD "20" which serves as a soundtrack for the aforementioned biopic, is probably a bigger culprit in the group allegedly being dropped from Epic. The CD "20" has sold roughly 50,000 copies after one month of release.


Lionel Martin, Left Eye, Babyface,Chilli, T-Boz, L.A. Reid and Pebbles on the set of the group's first music video "Ain't Too Proud To Beg"

To a major label that represents a failed album. There are major label artists selling five times as many copies of their CD and getting dropped. The CD "20" has been given a significant amount of promotion, via an internet advertising campaign, hundreds of articles and blog posts, radio airplay and particularly via the biopic being viewed by 4,500,000 people.

To music executives, for an act to have that much exposure as major label artists and only sell 50,000 indicates a problem. Labels are low on profits in comparison to a decade ago and are quick to cut their losses and move on in the current sales climate when music just isn't selling what it used to anymore.

 

 


Tweets about TLC being dropped from Epic/Sony

It's also very telling that TLC resigned with a label that has many of the same executives that were present during their financial woes at the height of their fame. Clive Davis, the man who made the most money off TLC, still has a vested interest in Sony as well.

STORY SOURCE

Pebbles Got TLC Dropped from Epic?

Thursday, November 21, 2013 - TLC just got dropped from Epic Records and insiders say Pebbles is to blame...LA Reid quietly resigned TLC to Epic Records this past summer but a TLC fan page just broke the news that the duo had been dropped. When a fan asked if Pebbles had anything to do with it the answer was yes. A quick check shows TLC is no longer listed on the Epic artist webpage.

http://www.rhymeswithsnitch.com

TLC Fired Over LA Reid Affair Rumors: Epic Records logo removed from TLC's website, New album not being released in 2014?

Nov 21, 2013 04:37 PM EST - TLC has reportedly been dropped by Epic records after their feud with former manager Pebbles and singer Chilli's alleged affair with music executive LA Reid. TLC fansite took notice that the girl group name was not posted on the Epic's roster online as well as Epic's logo removal on the girl's site. Chilli ad Tboz announced to MTV that they would be working with LA Reid for a future album expected to be released in 2014...

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

TLC’s Former Manager Pebbles Really Needs To Write A Book Due To Scandalous Claims Online


Pebbles

For the past several years, there have been scandalous rumors online about TLC’s former manager and mentor Pebbles, real name Perri McKissack. After Pebbles had a legal dispute of a contractual nature with the all female music group she made very famous, some took to the internet to post items about her that are incendiary.


For instance, several blogs have reported a claim that she was a prostitute in her native Oakland, California, where she dated a drug dealer who pimped her. There are also claims that at age 20, Pebbles married George Smith - a man twice her age who was the head of a California bank - after cheating with him as his wife lay dying of cancer. The report also states Pebbles moved into his large home and began wearing his dead wife’s clothes (furs ect) the day of the funeral. The next claim states she cheated on Smith with producer L.A. Reid, whom she married.


TLC

There are claims that during the marriage to Reid, who constantly cheated on her (which is true) she picked up with an old lover Joe Broadnax, an alleged drug dealer from Oakland, whom she became pregnant for, bearing him a secret son named Tian. A post on YouTube featured Tian claiming Pebbles never owned up to him and he is living in rough circumstances in Oakland. The video was subsequently deleted. Then there’s the long list of rumors about what transpired with TLC, which needs to be addressed.


TLC, L.A. Reid and Pebbles. A reliable source responsible for some of my exclusives has again confirmed to me that Chilli had an affair with Pebbles' then husband L.A. Reid. The source stated "Chilli is lying" regarding denials about the affair. 

It's great that Pebbles has now become a minister and has been devoting time to help people, which is a good thing. Pebbles has led a very interesting life, filled with accomplishments and heartbreak. A book by her would be an interesting read. I would definitely buy that book.
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Friday, November 15, 2013

T-Boz And Chilli From TLC Threaten Former Manager Pebbles With Lightning


What TLC looked like watching Pebbles' interviews this week

T-Boz and Chilli of the girl group TLC blew a gasket yesterday when their former manager and mentor, Pebbles, who is now a minister, when on two shows and let the cat out of the bag regarding many things that happened behind the scenes with the group, refuting what was stated in the VH-1 biopic "CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story."


Chilli still rocking the baby hairs in 2013. Girl, you need to push that thing back like Lebron. LOL I'm just playing, Lebron, don't get mad, but lend her one of your headbands.

Both T-Boz and Chilli tweeted on social networking site Twitter "Yall need 2 watch what church y'all walk into cuz I'll tell ya some of these so-called MINISTERS might get struck by lightning at any moment." The statement was disrespectful to the church. I can't vouch for anyone, but I have seen some of the good work Pebbles has been doing in ministry.


Pebbles

Chilli is also claiming she never had sex with L.A. Reid, but she is not telling the truth, much like in the film "CrazySexyCool." This story has been going around for nearly 15-years on radio in Atlanta and in the blogosphere. Chilli had ample time to address it. She could have even sued. However, she has not. If fact, the video "Have A Little Mercy" by another of Pebbles' groups 4.0, in the industry was said to be about issues with L.A. Reid's infidelity:



Chilli is known in the industry for being promiscuous, T-Boz was not. It's the same promiscuity that caused a number of famous men to have cold feet regarding marrying her. Chilli is a pretty woman, but her wildness and pickiness, combined with the sheer devotion she has demanded from men and not returned burned her. Focusing on other women's men didn't help either.
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