R&B Spotlight is at it again tonight, Sunday July 15th, at NYC’s legendary BB King’s Blues & Grill. That’s right, one of the best “live” showcases, which have featured some of your favorite artist (S.W.V, R.L. of 90’s R&B group, Next; Meelah of 702; and most recently, Sisqo, lead singer of multi-platinum group Dru Hill) in passing months, makes it’s return in the heart of Times Square to open the curtain of opportunity for a few of today’s rising R&B talents.

Jayms Madison, Lolah Brown, Kenny Dark, & T-Soul are a few of the acts attached tonight’s bill, while Grammy award winning-singer/songwriter Mario Winans and Supermodel Tyson Beckford are marked as celebrity headliners for the evening. Trust us, this is one event you don’t want to miss!

“We hope that by inviting national acts, we’ll inspire up and coming artists to pursue their dreams,” founder of R&B Spotlight’s Cory Taylor stated.

Doors open at 7 p.m. show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 dollars in advance and $15 day of the event. Tickets may be purchased directly at BB Kings or at ticketmaster.com

VIBE and SINGERSROOM are the official media sponsors for R&B Spotlight.

Mona Scott-Young, VH1′s Love and Hip Hop creator, switched gears a bit and brought her highly-rated reality show down to the dirty south; Atlanta. Last night had the honor of attending the private screening for the popular VH1 reality show, sponsored by Hip Hop Weekly Magazine, Ciroc, and Cintron, which V-103′s Egypt served as host at Buckhead’s hot spot, Frank Ski‘s. Each cast member was filled with excitement as they spoke openly about the upcoming season! After watching the full first episode, I can assure that you’ll be at the edge of your seat each week!

The new cast members include up-and-coming recording artists K. Michelle and Karlie; female rapper Rasheeda; Rasheeda’s husband/manager, Kirk Frost; 3 time Grammy Award-winner & producer Stevie J; Mimi, long-time girlfriend of Stevie J; Stevie J’s newest artist, Joseline; Rapper Lil’ Scrappy; Lil Scrappys’ on-again/off-again girlfriend & Baby mother, Erica; and sure to be a fan favorite… Lil’ Scrappy’s mother, Momma Dee!

Watch the drama unfold as each member unintentionally showcase their heartbreak and emotion on national television in search of, and in some cases trying to maintain, this little thing called love.

Check out all the photos and watch a preview of the first season, premiering June 18 at 8PM, below:

At the 3rd season launch of ATL Live on the Park, put on by Shanti Das/Marlon Nichols and hosted by Lifestyle specialist Kenny Burns, I talked with Mateo for a few minutes after his live performance to find out what he’s been up to since we last ran into each other in New York last year.

I found out, for Mateo, Tuesday night’s performance was a celebration on several fronts. Not only did he ink a new deal with Interscope records, but rumor has it that a collaboration with a well-known rapper is also in the works.

Although he remained tight-lipped about the collabo, I questioned Mateo about his newly signed deal with Interscope while we wait for him to let the cat out of the bag.

He let us in on what he believes he can bring back to R&B music, and of course, his new label deal!

Check out my brief interview with Mateo… as well as pics of Ray Laverder, RHOA cast member and entrepreneur Peter Thomas, DJ TRAUMA, Chanita Foster, and up and coming pop group The Yes Ma’ams at one of the biggest monthly concert series in Atlanta.

Kenny Burns and Shanti Das

Kodak Boi with The Yes Ma’ams

Mateo hitting the stage at ATL Live On The Park

The Yes Ma’ams

Ray Lavender

Take three undeniably gorgeous gals, mix them with 80s-glam, nail them to the floor with cut-throat lyrics and booming basslines, top them off with in-your-face-sass, and you have The Yes Ma’ams! Offering soft-porn visuals at it’s best… Secret, Slander, Privacy (from left to right) are indeed a spectacle of organic fierceness. As their Twitter bio reassures, this is “What girls are made of…”

With a name like The Yes Ma’ams, anyone who doesn’t know the group (or their music) would perspectively think these girls would come off as completely arrogant and borderline bitchy, but such is not the case for the trio based in Atlanta, Ga. They’re actually fun and flirty… which comes across in their spunky music based on sexually suggestive themes.

“Only If I Say So,” a cut from the trio’s upcoming effort, offers the ”new pop-funk” sound that has become a staple in today’s music scene, accompanied by in-your-face lyrics. “Touch me right there (Only if I say so)/Kiss me right there (Only if I say so)/If you wanna play the game then you gotta behave/ I know you wanna taste, but ahhh (Only if I say so),” they boost on the track.

“Vanessa,” just as energetic as the previous track, also warrants a listening to as the girls ‘slay’ their audience with seductive tones over an up-beat tempo.

Since most women tend to find their inner-sexy within music, female fans will undoubtedly identify more with a group like The Yes Ma’ams. But as always, image plays a major role in a definitive fanbase, so their sex appeal will enable the girls to win themselves countless male admirers as well.

If you’re an off-spring of the eighties, like myself, then it’s clear to you that The Yes Ma’ams exhibit many of the same characteristics (vocal style, music, lyrics etc) of early 1980′s group Vanity 6 (assembled by Prince).

But listening and looking closely, it’s obvious these girls may just possess something Vanity 6 didn’t. I can’t completely formulate ‘it’ into words just yet, but if the girls milk ‘it’ right, then ‘it’ will be clear, and hold a distinct advantage over their predecessors.

You can download their music at TheYesMaams.com! Make sure to follow the girls on Twitter & Facebook. But in the meantime, you can play a few of their tracks right here on VIBE Vixen and tell us what you think!

♫ Only If I Say So ♫

♫ Vanessa ♫

Now that we’re one month into the new year, has anyone slacked on their resolutions? You know how it goes: the new year begins, you start becoming motivated by the goals you’ve set, you get started. For the next couple of weeks, everything goes well – you begin to see a new you!

Then suddenly you fall off course… 

We’ve all been there. It gets pretty tough after just a few days. Your motivation begins to drift away, you start hanging around circles of friends who don’t support your new habits and/or routine and you start to lose self-control. Sounds like your life?? Tell us! Have you stopped going to the gym or started smoking again?

Whatever your choices were we want to know, have you stuck to the resolutions you’ve made?

Filmed at Akon‘s Dreamland mansion, Coko, Taj and Lelee got dolled up Thursday in Atlanta to give matching visuals to their latest single “Cosign” – a mid-tempo cut produced by Cainon Lamb.  It’s the talented R&B trio’s first single/video in 15 years! And who better to grab to direct their comeback video then the entertainment industry’s most sought after photographer, Derek blanks.

Highlighting his unique talent as a visionary, D. blanks is continuing to expand his brand as he branches off into video production. That’s right, the critically acclaimed photographer can now add ‘director’ to his name as “Cosign” will be his first directed music video.

Not to give too much away, but in the video, the girls play themselves as they juggle between love and the music industry. The record will be on their forthcoming album due out April 10th.

Set to debut within the next few weeks, SWV gave VIBE VIXEN a behind-the-scenes look for their latest video. Peep more festive set pics below…

(Atlanta, GA, December 23, 2011) – Noted philanthropist and entertainment mogul, Devyne Stephens and a host of his celebrity friends toasted the holiday with the biggest charity event of the season on Thursday night at the historical Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, GA. The highly anticipated 4^th annual “This Christmas” celebration was true to form the biggest Christmas event of the 2011 holiday season.  Known for being one of the most talked about events of the year “This Christmas” paid homage to Grammy award-winning, multi-platinum producer, Polow Da Don, Vice President of Writer and Publisher Relations in Atlanta division of BMI, Catherine Brewton, basketball legend, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, and national news anchor, Monica Pearson for their commendable impact in the areas of entertainment, sports, and media.  Each honoree thanked Stephens for the nomination and commended him on the great community efforts of his Devyne Intervention foundation.

Thursday night’s black tie gala exceeded expectations welcoming a host of celebrities, politicians, tastemakers and key influencers to an indulgent holiday extravaganza, including a lavish cocktail reception and star-studded awards ceremony.  Jack Sawyer and Lovette Russell served as Master and Mistress of Ceremony with Martin Luther King III and actress/director Jasmine Guy presenting as well.  Stephens himself made a surprise announcement regarding his upcoming partnership with the Woodruff Arts Center.  “Our foundation is dedicated to helping youth express themselves through music and various genres of art, so it was a great opportunity for us to work with the Woodruff Arts Center.  I’m excited to collaborate with the Woodruff Art Center on the first African American art gallery in the city,” Stephens says.

Noted celebrity and executive guests for the 2011 “This Christmas” charity gala included: Chris Tucker, Keri Hilson, Gucci Mane, Akon,  Mayor Kasim Reed, Dallas Austin, Cynthia Bailey and Peter Thomas (RHOA) , comedian Rodney Perry, actress/singer Demetria McKinney, America’s Next Top Model finalist Dominique Reighard,  super producer Jazze Pha,  Olympic medalist Elana Meyers, rap artist Diamond, Brandi D (formerly of Blaque), rapper Young Dro, Princess (formerly of Crime Mob), Bernard Bronner, Lisa Wu-Hartwell (formerly RHOA), V-103’s Kenny Burns and Baby Yu, Dr. William Torres, Bill and Cindy Voyles  and many more.

Proceeds for the 4^thannual “This Christmas” were donated to Devyne Intervention.  Under the leadership of founder Devyne Stephens, the foundation works to inspire and support the positive development of youth through the power of music.

MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 2 —->

Rapper Heavy D recently passed at the age of 44 in Los Angeles due to complications from pneumonia.

On Thursday, November 17th, friends and celebrities took to the 2011 Soul Train Music Awards to remember the self-proclaimed “Overweight Lover”. “That was just a good man. I know people know him as an artist, but that was a great man we lost so suddenly” said, Marsha Ambrosius.

Its clear that Heavy’s untimly death took a toll on all of us in some form or another, but after speaking to everyone on the red carpet I realized just how many lives he really touched and the lives he influenced.

Don’t forget to catch the 2011 Soul Train Music Awards tonight as they pay tribute to Heavy D, with a group performance by Kurtis Blow, Naughty by Nature, Big Daddy Kane, Doug E. Fresh, and Cee-Lo.

It’s been dubbed as the ‘Most Soulful Night in Entertainment’ and musicians of all genres came out in their best to the 2011 Soul Train Music Awards. This year’s show, which honors phenomenons Earth, Wind and Fire and Gladys Knight, took place at the FOX Theater in Atlanta, Ga.

I took to the red carpet to see which Soul Train tribute the stars were most excited to see, and also their prefered social medium of choice! As you know, a growing number of celebrities tend to plug their profiles on social networks like Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and even Instagram these days.

From sexy reality stars to R&B hearthrobs – and notiable heavyweights – see how some of today’s biggest stars weigh in on social media and this year’s legendary honorees.

Looking college boy fresh! Common, 32, showed off a more casual side wearing a navy blue shawl collar sweater, burgandy & navy strip tie, and a blue dress shirt… which he paired with stonewash jeans and brown loafers.

Common, who can be found wearing many hats these days (rapper, actor, and author), is preparing for a private listening session this week in Atlanta for his upcoming album The Dreamer, which features production from No I.D.. I’ve heard a few cuts off myself and I must say I have nothing but positive reviews so far, so I’m itching to hear what else he has in store.

The 3D flick opens November 18.