HIPHOSSIP MUSIC BLOG

WHITNEY'S PRIVATE WAKE IS HELD.

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Kemi) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:10:21 PST

Photos via Splash/INFphoto/FameFlynet /Toronto Sun/Keminications Media

Bobby Kristina, Cissy Houston and Clive Davis arrive at last nite's wake for Whitney. I heard she looked beautiful and Mrs Whigham's funeral home did an excellent job on that beautiful face. I am going to miss her! For the first time, I am listening to Whitney in my I-Pod since 5 days. This time last week, she was partying and happy. What is this? I cannot make anything out of this senseless death yet. The time I was on that Bravo set blogging in the early days are so vivid now. One thing I will never forget is her humility.

Once while we were on the set at the Buckhead Grand Hyatt, there was a wedding party and everyone recognized Bobby but did not realize Whitney was standing right there. When I told them, that is Whitney, one woman was shy or scared and I said to her "go to her and ask her for a photo, she'll give ya" Whitney's nice and love fans. The lady was thrilled, got an autograph, hug and picture. Come to think of it, Whitney's signature is not in my book of celeb sigs. It was not meant to be, I guess. It's the little things you forget. Pls listen to her final album "I didn't know my own strenght." Thank You--MsKemi @HipHossip

WHITNEY FANS TOLD TO "STAY AWAY" AND STAY HOME FOR FUNERAL.

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Kemi) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:52:13 PST

Photo: Mike Segar/Reuters

A New Jersey police chief is urging Whitney Houston fans not to go anywhere near the star's funeral on Saturday, telling them to stay home and watch it on TV instead.

The pop superstar, who died in Los Angeles last Saturday, will be remembered in a private memorial service in her hometown of Newark, New Jersey at the weekend.

Famous friends, including Kevin Coster and Aretha Franklin, are expected to attend along with family members, but officials have warned fans not to attempt to get close to the funeral at the New Hope Baptist Church.

A number of streets around the venue will be closed, and Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio has told the public to stay away.

He says, "I would advise the public that there really is going to be nothing to see here at the church. The best thing to do would be to stay home and watch the service on television. The privacy the family is seeking for the funeral... the NPD (Newark Police Department) is going to do everything they can to ensure that."

The ceremony is closed to the public, but Houston's publicist has confirmed a single camera will be allowed inside the church to broadcast the service on the internet, while a local news channel will stream the feed live.

Wenn.com

MELANIE FIONA DOES CANADA PROUD WITH TWO GRAMMYS.

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Kemi) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:12:35 PST

The Grammys are a fool for Melanie Fiona.The 25-year-old Toronto native won two trophies — her first Grammys — at the pre-telecast awards handed out in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon.Fiona captured the traditional R&B vocal performance and R&B song prizes for her work on Cee Lo Green’s song Fool For You.“I’m Melanie Fiona and it is so nice to meet all of you!” a clearly thrilled Fiona said after making her way to the stage. “This is, needless to say, a dream come true for me.

“To be standing up here no winning an award is the highest honour I could expect today,” Fiona said, thanking family, friends and fans in Toronto.Fiona also paid tribute to the late Whitney Houston during her acceptance speech, saying: “I would not be standing up here if it was not for you.”Her two victories made Fiona the top winner among this year’s group of Canadian Grammy nominees. Seven artists earned a dozen nominations in 10 categories. But nearly all went down to defeat.

Niagara Falls DJ Deadmau5, nominated in three dance and electronic categories, lost to Skrillex, one of the afternoon’s big winners. Toronto-born composer Ryan Shore’s music for indie film The Shrine lost the score soundtrack award to Alexandre Despat’s soundtrack for The King’s Speech. Drake had two shots in the rap/sung category with What’s My Name (his duet with Rihanna) and I’m On One (with DJ Khaled, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne), but lost to Kanye West’s All of the Lights.

Finally, Sum 41 lost the best hard rock/metal performance to Foo Fighters’ White Limo. The only other Canadian to win a Grammy during the afternoon was graphic artist Caroline Robert. The French-born Montreal resident picked up a recording packaging award for her work on the deluxe reissue of Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs, which won album of the year at the 2011 Grammys.With the televised evening ceremonies still to come, the only Canuck who still has a chance of taking home some hardware is Drake, who is competing for the rap performance prize with Moment 4 Life, his song with Nicki Minaj.

darryl.sterdan@sunmedia.ca