Artist: Xteria
Genre(s):
Other
Discography:
Outshine
Year: 2000
Tracks: 7
 
LOS ANGELES - Beneath towering arches in an old cathedral downtown, a 20-member choir welcomed guests at the BET Awards pre-party with a rousing gospel tune.
Nelly, Ashanti, Jermaine Dupri and Jill Scott were among those who gathered Monday at Vibiana - a majestic church built in 1876 - for a private dinner hosted by Black Entertainment Television chairman Debra Lee.
As preparations for Tuesday's BET Awards, which recognize the best in black entertainment in 15 categories, continued at the nearby Shrine Auditorium, nominees, sponsors and industry executives dined and danced in honour of the occasion.
"This night gives us a reason to celebrate," Lee said. "We're truly honoured to be able to recognize the artists who are so important in our community. Not just the music, but the actors and athletes."
Nominee Soulja Boy said he was glad to be included.
"I hope I win," the 17-year-old rapper said. "The BET Awards represents me, where I come from and everything."
He was especially excited about seeing fellow nominee Lil Wayne perform on the show.
Dupri, a producer who has worked with Mariah Carey and Usher, said he still gets a thrill from seeing celebs at the BET Awards.
"You get all the stars under one roof," he said. "And it continues to grow."
The historic cathedral took on a tropical vibe, thanks to bouquets of pink and purple orchids atop lime green tablecloths. Partygoers, including MC Lyte and Tyrese, boogied on the dance floor before sitting down to a dinner of lobster-and-grapefruit salad followed by a grilled veal chop.
Scott, who is set to perform a tribute to lifetime achievement award honoree Al Green on Tuesday's show, kept things cooking into the night with a spirited set backed by an 11-piece band.
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On the Net:
http://www.bet.com/
Luke Pritchard, frontman of The Kooks, has called Coldplay the “best band in the world” and compared them to David Bowie.
The singer said he couldn't understand how the band had received negative press despite their latest album, 'Viva La Vida', topping the charts in the UK and America.
“I can’t believe that they’re getting a hard time,” he said. “It’s weird. How can people undermine them? To me Coldplay are other-worldly.
“I love the whole thing they’ve got going on on this album with the Les Misérables theme.”
As previously reported on Gigwise, Coldplay has so far sold over 500,000 copies of their new album in the UK alone.
In an interview with the Daily Star, Pritchard said that people like to “diss” the band because “it's popular”.
“I’ve often wondered what it would have been like to see David Bowie in his Space Oddity days and even though it’s not as shocking, Coldplay have got a similar thing going on,” he added.
What do you think about Pritchard's comments? Is he right? Let Gigwise readers know your opinion by posting a comment below.
LINDSAY LOHAN's mother DINA has revealed one of her secrets to becoming a 'Top Mom' - she is obsessed with searching for false stories of her famous family online.
Earlier this month (May08), Dina was named one of the mothers of the year in her native Long Island, New York - and the 45-year-old admits she's constantly on the look-out for "idiots who are talking trash".
Just this year (08), Dina announced the production of her upcoming U.S. TV reality show Living Lohan, which will follow the manager-mum as she navigates the careers of her two younger children, Ali, 14, and Cody, 11.
In the premiere episode - titled Mommy Will Fix It - set to air in the U.S. this weekend (24May08), Lohan Sr. fumes to one blogger: "You need to get (the article) down immediately, because I'm in touch with my attorney."
She adds, "I don't live my life every day going, 'Oh, they're talking about us.' I'm over it. Yes, it still does hurt, but people are just idiots."
The cameras also follow the mother-of-three as she hits back at stories surrounding daughter Lindsay's trouble-filled past 12 months, which have seen her in and out of rehab and arrested twice for driving under the influence.
Spotting an alleged sex tape video of her eldest daughter online, Dina is shown staring at the screen, attempting to judge its authenticity before declaring: "It's a big game of chess, and it's our move. Bring it on now. Let's go."