Okay so I know ‘Nsync is over and has been over for just under 10 years now but I came across some images from back in the day and made it into a mosaic collage of art. It’s pretty good if I do say so myself. Catch the men of this supergroup on Larry King sometime around 2000 or 2011. If you click on the image above you will see the wallpaper enlarged and you can use it as your desktop wallpaper.
Witness The Evolution: Charles’ Blog 2.0
I have relaunched my new blog which I will be updating at the same time as Charles’ Blog. It’s a side project but it’s really good and I want you to check it out as often as you visit Charles’ Blog. Post comments and spread the word. The power is yours!
The URL: http://charlesblog.allalla.com/
Enjoy and comment. I want feedback!!!
Star Trek 2: Movie Reboot

I have always been a fan of Star Trek but particularly Star Trek Generations. To this date I think that incarnation both on TV and on the big screen is the best and thank God they rebooted the franchise. I can’t wait for the sequel supposedly coming in 2013, bummer!
Chris Pine’s career went from doing corny romantic movies with Lindsay Lohan to be a great action/adventure star. He is the new James T. Kirk and anyone who watched the first reboot they would see Chris Hemsworth as his dad before they killed that character early in the movie. Good times for real, can’t wait for 2012 and 2013 because it’s going to be an epic time for movies.
Competition on The X Factor USA Heats Up!

I was very open to welcoming the X factor reality music show especially seeing that Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul were going to be two of the four judges in the competition. Nicole Scherzinger I am pretty much familiar with as she was in one of my favourite groups, ‘The Pussycat Dolls and also got her foot in the door of the industry by being in a reality show herself prior to PCD. This group was called Eden’s Crush who broke up after a few months. L.A. Reid is a record executive who signed Rihanna and many other superstars behind the scenes. Very powerful guy right there!
My favourite contestant is Brian Bradley also known as ‘Astro’ who can really rhyme. He puts his own spin on hip hop songs and makes them his own. He even expresses a desire to be bigger than Jay-Z, a very ambitious message to Mr. Shawn Carter. Next we have 13 year old Rachel Crow and then Melanie Amora who each have great vocal talent and are rays of sunshine in the judges’ and my book.
Melanie has some powerful vocal chords and could be the next Jessica Simpson. The format of the show is that you have persons competing for a $5 million recording contract and a shot at being a super star. Unlike American Idol X Factor showcases talent 13 years and up which means you could pretty much be 70 or damn close to enter.
At the end of boot camp’ and call-backs and auditions hosted by the judges the contestants and placed in four groups. This year L.A. Reid mentors the boys, Nicole would mentor those ages 30 and up, Paula Abdul manages the groups and Simon Cowell gets the girls. Then when the performances are over the batches have to sit and wait for America to vote by twitter, text messages or phone calls from fans and viewers of the show.
It’s different from ‘Idol’ in the sense that you could enter as a rapper, a group or be placed in one, next the over 30, and one such person is now 60. Then the girls, boys 13 and up and groups, even though they are not always entered as a group they can be placed in a group as seen with one such group ‘Intensity’ which was a group of young teens didn’t exist until Paula bundled them together and unfortunately so far the two acts voted off the show are groups Paula mentored.
After the votes are cast the two acts with the lowest number of votes participate in a lifeline extension to sing for another chance to be in the competition the next week. This show is new to me still but I think I love that it’s not ‘Idol’ and has its own flavour. I will be watching and I hope Astro, Melanie and Rachel dominate the top three spots at the end of the season. Oh and before I forget, Astro supporters have been named ‘Astronauts!’ Awesome!
Rihanna’s New Album: ‘Talk That Talk’ Drops November 21, 2011

Rihanna enters a new era in her six year long career and ascendency to pop music domination. She is a one woman army and can’t be stopped. Please don’t stop Rihanna, keep on making music for the people but tone down the sexiness just a tad. After all we don’t want you to get reprimanded by higher powers that be. Now five albums deep and a new one just a few weeks away Rihanna has dethroned records by the best of the best, most recently Madonna whose Billboard record she just broke by having over 20 top ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts.

I can’t wait for the new album ‘Talk That Talk’ but in the meanwhile check out the two covers for the album, regular one all the way to the top and deluxe version second from the top. She is getting a lot of heat from critics who say she is oozing too much sex appeal and is way too slutty like a whore for living the Hollywood life. Anyway, who are they to judge?! Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. November 21, 2011 is the due date. Go Rihanna!
Kelly Clarkson: Career Officially Closed!

I was a Kelly Clarkson from the start. Ever since her first single and music video ‘A Moment Like This’ hit the airwaves I thought she was special. Unfortunately American Idol winners seems to have all but fallen off the map. Carrie Underwood, the fourth ‘Idol’ winner has been more successful than the rest, even Daughtry as well whose lead singer Chris Daughtry came in fourth has been just as successful or greater than Kelly.
She is taking too many risks with her sounds that is not necessarily good for her and her brand. She has a raspy voice and can belt out a tune bigger than Carrie Underwood but is she relevant still? I used to get my music fix and news from cable networks like MTV and VH1 but now I am mostly getting it from online.
Clarkson is amazing but she needs to stick with something that if isn’t broken it should not be fixed. I want to see how well her album does and how it stands up with modern competition like Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Rihanna; powerhouse successes of the moment. If she doesn’t measure up in the pop world anymore then she needs to pack her bags and head back to Texas. Countdown to Kelly’s new album is on. Get set for October 24, 2011!
Did You Know? Britney Spears Wanted To Become a Teacher
I was just reading some info from another site which said that Britney Spears wanted to become a teacher when she was little. Perhaps after the Mickey Mouse Club days. From the looks of it she could be a sex education (sex-ed) a Physical Education teacher. I say so because her winding and grinding up actions suggest she could be perfect in either genre. She is in shape after all. Britney, I am so glad you are a popstar because when I see the rivals you are always on top, no pun intended. It would be a dull and boring place without you. Promise to keep on singing!
Check out my pics above and you’ll see how flexible she is and how she has taught new stars a few tricks, like Rihanna and in many ways Beyonce, even though she is the black version of Britney. I’m still a fan of the rest but Britney Spears is hands down the best. It’s just how it is!
The X Factor USA Premieres … With a Bang!
On Wednesday and Thursday nights of this week I was given a treat in the form of a new talent competition called The X Factor USA or Simon Cowell’s The X factor. He was reunited with one time judging opponent in the form of Paula Abdul, They have great chemistry as was seen on American Idol and Simon Cowell definitely wanted her back for more with his new show.
The X factor is bsically the same as in England where individual singers, duos or groups perform for the prize of a US$5 million dollar recording contract and the chance to become a superstar. I enjoyed the talent and the very first contestant who was about 12 or thirteen and looked bi-racial, half black, half white wowed the crowd and the judges with her awesome talent. She said her family was broke and they need the money so that’s why she is competing. She was hilarious, petite and cute and was very bubbly.
There was a particular contestant who thought by going half nude and exposing his genitals to gain some sort of recognition was cool, but he wasn’t. He was perverted and offensive to the point where Paula had to throw up, literally. He has to be escorted from the audition premises, thank God! He was just weird and disgusting!
The show pulled in some great ratings and is already a hit so let’s ride this wave. I hope it does grow as big or bigger than American Idol. It has the ‘X’ Factor, whatever that means.
L.A. Reid and Simon Cowell have had no major battled as of yet but we are just two episodes deep so a lot can happen. The first show featured British singer Cheryl Cole as the second female judge but because of internal conflicts had to be replace and was done so by Nicole Scherzinger, former lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls. I love the show so far and it’d different and unique and no age limited, just contestants 12 and over, period! I can’t wait for next week’s show. It ago maad!!!
Who Will End Up Being The Hotter Mom: Beyonce or Christina Milian?

Well, well, well it seems like Christina Milian and Every Other Popstar of her time has beaten Beyonce to pregancy and impending motherhood. Christina seemed to have had a rough time with the breakdown of her marriage to R&B crooner, The-Dream. I don’t know how it feels especially with a child in the picture but I wish her well in the here and now and days to come.
Beyonce’s pregnancy announcement may have very well been the biggest one of all breaking all sorts of twitter records. She is the biggest pop/r&b star of her generation maybe even beating out Britney Spears. I think Christina Milian has such a great voice and can really, really sing and is also an excellent songwriter. Let’s see who ends up being the hotter mom.
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at what Beyonce’s baby will look like seeing as how Jay-Z is the dad and he ain’t gonna win any beauty contests soon. I wish the loving couple well and let me say for the record…it’s about damn time!
Kelly Clarkson’s Return To Music: New Album “Stronger” Comes October 24, 2011

So Kelly Clarkson, the original American Idol is back and with fresh new tunes for us to hear. The album will be released on Monday, October 24 and with the new track ‘Mr. Know It All’ as the first single. I don’t know if I’ll like it or love it but I certainly don’t want to hate it. The music industry have been starving for new music to fatten its pockets and satisfy listeners once more and shake that slump.
Kelly is pop/rock royalty but she touches on R&B sometimes so I am not sure where she is going with this musically but this album is highly anticipated so let’s se if Kelly sinks or swims or even soars with her latest project. I am a fan and we fans want results. If you can’t deliver then go home because this industry has a short term listening span and has no intent on lamenting on what was or what can be.
Kelly has had her struggles and the last time I saw her on TV or on the web she was fat, big time! Hope she has lost that weight because she ain’t looking like she’s ready for primetime. Hey, Jordin Sparks, fellow American Idol winner has also lost a lot of weight and is about to launch a new album as well so cop it and don’t steal.
American Idol time people. Don’t forget the winners who made musical television cool again. Support the idols.
Lady Gaga Can Surf: Hey, She Looks Like a Normal Person Now & A Total Babe

So the normalcy has returned to Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, the liberal queen known as Lady Gaga to the rest of us who don’t live in a cage. Lady Gaga has been known for her way above abnormal behaviour and styles of dress. What would New York do without her?! She is genuine, outspoken and bold.
She cares for the liberal ways that she has gotten and instilled within her. She really believes in the cause and goes for it, really hard. Although her methods are unorthodox she means well and would so be a great member of President Obama’s cabinet. She and Pink would make great domestic advisors. Maybe not for the economy but for other matters on a smaller scale.
The Return of Dr. Dre, Eminem + 50 Cent: Brace Yourselves!

It’s because of gansta and hardcore rappers like Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg who took over hip-hop and made it violent and explosive. Rap and Hip-Hop weren’t meant to be treated that way but they have been. As for the cousins of Hip-Hop, Dancehall music has also ben hijacked to reflect the views of those violent thugs and out of control trouble makers.
Dr. Dre returned to hip-hop briefly but he has so long been forgotten that I haven’t seen the videos or hear the chunes on the radio.. Eminem has made a grand comeback though and is flying high on a wave of success, something Dr. Dre may be jealous of, seeing as how he is a veteran of the Hip-Hop game and Eminem came so long after he did.
50 Cent has suffered a major blow to his craft seeing as how everyone has left G-Unit except Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks. Don’t know if Mobb Deep is still around but they may have cut ties from 50. 50 Cent peaked. Absolutely peaked but what do you expect when the most influential rapper gets sidelined by a fresh egotistical troublemaker named Kanye Omari West?!
Don’t know what the future holds for them but I wouldn’t mind seeing them fail so I can have some piece of mind. Good riddance to G-Unit. They were out of control and now the empire has crumbled. Eminem is back on top as the most successful rapper in recent history, having beat out Jay-Z and T.I. or even Weezy F baby himself, Lil’ Wayne.
How long will Eminem’s longevity last and how will it affect black America and their struggles to make their impact on hip-hop. They don’t really need a somewhat pop tart white guy hijacking their music. He’s already white and that’s huge in this world. Don’t take away Hip-Hop like white people like Elvis took over rock ‘n’ roll!
