This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2008)

Ibbi-Sin, son of Shu-Sin, was king of Sumer and Akkad and last king of the Ur III dynasty, and reigned circa 1963 BC-1940 BC (Short chronology). During his reign, the Sumerian empire was attacked repeatedly by Amorites. As faith in Ibbi-Sin's leadership failed, Elam declared its independence and began to raid as well.

Ibbi-Sin ordered fortifications built at the important cities of Ur and Nippur, but these efforts were not enough to stop the raids or keep the empire unified. Cities throughout Ibbi-Sin's empire fell away from a king who could not protect them. Ibbi-Sin was, by the end of his kingship, left with only the city of Ur. In 1940 BC, the Elamites, along with "tribesmen from the region of Shimashki in the Zagros Mountains" (Stiebing 79) sacked Ur and took Ibbi-Sin captive; he was taken to the city of Elam where he was imprisoned and, at an unknown date, died.

The success of the Amorite invasion[link]

The Amorites were considered a backwards people by Mesopotamian standards. That they were able to cause so much trouble in the Ur III empire is surprising. In truth, the Amorite efforts to invade the empire may have been effective simply because they were in the right place at the right time. Scholars have suggested that, by the reign of Ibbi-Sin, the empire was already in decline due to long-term drought--in fact, the same drought that helped to take down the Akkadian Empire circa 2193 BC may have been responsible for the fall of Ur III.

"Studies of Persian Gulf sediments indicate that the stream flow of the Tigris and Euphrates was very low around 2100-2000 B.C.E. [...] Any damage to the agricultural system by enemy raids, bureaucratic mismanagement, or an inattentive ruler would result in food shortages"

In years seven and eight of Ibbi-Sin's kingship, the price of grain increased to 60 times the norm. From this, we can conclude that the success of the Amorites in disrupting the Ur III empire is, at least in part, a product of attacks on the agricultural and irrigation systems; these attacks brought famine and caused an economic collapse in the empire, paving the way for the Elamites to strike into Ur and capture the king.

References[link]

• Stiebing Jr., William H. (2003). Ancient Near Eastern History and Culture. New York: Pearson Education. ISBN 0-321-06674-X. 

Eric Church
Eric Church
Background information
Birth name	Kenneth Eric Church
Born	(1977-05-03) May 3, 1977 (age 35)
Origin	Granite Falls, North Carolina, United States
Genres	Country, Southern rock
Occupations	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Capitol Records Nashville, EMI Nashville
Associated acts	Terri Clark, Jay Joyce
Website	www.ericchurch.com

Kenneth Eric Church (born May 3, 1977) is an American country music singer-songwriter. Signed to Capitol Records in 2006, his debut album Sinners Like Me produced four singles on the Billboard country chart, including the Top 20 hits "How 'Bout You", "Two Pink Lines", and "Guys Like Me". His second album, 2009's Carolina, produced three more singles: "Smoke a Little Smoke" and his first Top 10 hits, "Love Your Love the Most" and "Hell on the Heart". 2011's Chief, his first #1 album, includes the singles "Homeboy" and "Drink in My Hand", which became his first #1 single in January 2012.

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

Eric Church was born and raised in Granite Falls, North Carolina. At thirteen, he bought a guitar and began writing songs of his own. By his senior year of high school, he had found a gig at a local bar, which occupied most of his time. He played many Jimmy Buffett cover songs and a few of his own original songs in some dive bars. Some of these places were so rough that he got into a few altercations from the stage. For a few years, the band played often in bars and restaurants throughout North Carolina.^[1] The band "Mountain Boys" consisted of his college roommate (Mark Snow), brother, and a fellow guitarist.^[2]

Before moving to Nashville, Eric Church graduated from South Caldwell High School and then Appalachian State University with a degree in marketing. Upon graduation, Church became engaged. The future bride's father attempted to persuade Eric into a corporate career, which he rejected as an aspiring musician. He broke the engagment and headed to Nashville with his father's financial backing. His father also provided the opportunity to make contacts, and more importantly, time to focus on developing his songwriting ability .^[1]

Music career[link]

[edit] 2006-2007: Sinners Like Me

Arthur Buenahora Jr. signed him to a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Tree Music Publishing. Terri Clark took "The World Needs a Drink", which he co-wrote with Casey Beathard, into the country Top 30.^[2]

He started recording with different producers. Capitol Nashville showed an interest and watched him perform but they were yet to be convinced enough to offer a recording contract.^[3] Autumn House-Tallant told HitQuarters that they didn't think the music was interesting enough.^[3] The record company's attitude changed after he started working with producer Jay Joyce. The strong sound and direction the two forged together finally convinced Capitol Nashville that he was ready.^[3] His first single, "How 'Bout You" peaked at #14 on Hot Country Songs and led off his debut album Sinners Like Me. In April 2006, he performed on the Grand Ole Opry for the first time.^[4]

The album's other two singles, "Two Pink Lines" and "Guys Like Me", both reached the Top 20 as well.^[2] The fourth single, the title track, peaked at #51. An additional track from the album, "Lightning", was made into a music video despite not being released as a single. Church wrote the song shortly after moving to Nashville, inspired by the movie The Green Mile.^[4] Following the album's success, Church toured with Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts.^[4]

[edit] 2008-2010: Carolina

In 2008, Eric Church released a fifth single, "His Kind of Money (My Kind of Love)" to country radio. It debuted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart at #55 in early 2008, and reached its peak of #46 in August. Originally slated as the lead single to an upcoming second album, "His Kind of Money" was instead included as a bonus track on albums sold at Best Buy.

Following this song was "Love Your Love the Most", which debuted in late 2008 and was the first single from his second album Carolina, released on March 24, 2009.^[2] As with his debut album, Carolina was produced by Jay Joyce, and is entirely composed of songs that he co-wrote. "Love Your Love the Most" brought Church to the top 10 for the first time, peaking at #10 in September 2009. The album's second single, "Hell on the Heart", debuted in October 2009 and would also hit the top 10 in May 2010. The third single from "Carolina" was "Smoke A Little Smoke".

In June 2010 he moved to Capitol Nashville's new imprint EMI Records Nashville, becoming their second artist. On January 14, 2011, he released a four song EP entitled "Caldwell County".

[edit] 2011-2012: Chief

Eric Church released "Homeboy" to country radio in early 2011. The album Chief was released July 26, 2011, debuting at #1 on both Top Country Albums and the Billboard 200.^[5] The album sold 145,000 copies in its first week.^[5] On November 30, 2011, Chief was announced as a nominee for the 2012 Grammy Awards for Best Country Album. In January 2012 "Drink in My Hand" became his first #1 single. In February 2012, "Springsteen" was released as the third single from Chief, and has since become a Top 10 country hit, as well as his first Top 20 single on the Billboard Hot 100.

Personal life[link]

On January 8, 2008, Church married music publisher Katherine Blasingame in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. On October 3, 2011, they welcomed son Boone McCoy Church.^[6][7] Their home (along with Eric's "mancave"), located in Nashville, was featured in an episode of CMT "Cribs".^[8]

Tour[link]

• Me & My Gang Tour 2006 with Rascal Flatts & Gary Allan (Eric was kicked off for playing too long & Taylor Swift took his spot)
• Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars with Miranda Lambert (Select Dates)
• CMT Revolution Tour 2010 with Miranda Lambert & Josh Kelley
• My Kinda Party Tour 2011 with Jason Aldean & The JaneDear Girls (Spring Leg)
• Locked & Loaded Tour 2011 with Toby Keith
• Blood, Sweat and Beers Tour 2012 with Brantley Gilbert (First Headlining Tour)

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

Extended plays[link]

Singles[link]

Music videos[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

Notes[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Site
• Eric Church on Myspace
• Buy Erick Church Concert Tickets Online

Ivy Queen
Background information
Birth name	Martha Ivelisse Pesante
Also known as	The Queen of Reggaeton
Born	(1972-03-04) March 4, 1972 (age 40) Añasco, Puerto Rico
Origin	New York, New York
Genres	Reggaetón Hip Hop Rap Bachata
Occupations	composer, singer
Years active	1994–present
Labels	Univision Music Group, Abby Records Machete Music, Drama Records (present)

Martha Ivelisse Pesante (born March 4, 1972) is a Puerto Rican Latin Grammy nominated reggaetón composer and singer. She is most commonly known as Ivy Queen "La Reina Del Reggaeton" (The Queen of Reggaeton). She is also referred to as "The Queen of Bachata" and La Mama De Los Pollitos (The Mother of the Baby Chicks). She has many nicknames including: La Reina (The Queen), La Diva (The Diva), La Perra (The Bitch), La Caballota, La Cocorota, La Bandolera and La Potra.

Early years[link]

Martha Ivelisse Pesante, also known as Ivy Queen was born in Añasco, Puerto Rico.^[1] When she was young, Ivy Queen's parents moved to New York City where she was raised. Her parents returned to their hometown of Añasco when Ivy was in her teens.^[1] There she spent her time perfecting her craft while hanging out with barber/rapper chu chu tren. When she was 18, Ivy Queen moved to San Juan where she met rapper and producer, DJ Negro, who introduced her to a group called "The Noise," with whom she wrote and performed her first song "Somos Raperos Pero No Delincuentes" (We're Rappers, But Not Delinquents). She became tired with the violent and sexual themes often used in reggaeton, and wished to write about a variety of subjects.^[1]

Singing career[link]

Soon, DJ Negro convinced Ivy Queen to go solo and in 1997, she made her solo debut with the recording of the album En Mi Imperio (In My Empire) for the Sony International Records '97" award, naming her "The Peoples Favorite Rap Singer", by Artista magazine. In 1999, Ivy Queen released her second album, for the Sony Label, titled The Original Rude Girl which carried the following hit songs "In the Zone", "Que Sabes Tu" ("What Do You Know?") and "The King and the Queen". It sold more than her first album and was highly acclaimed. Then after five years without releasing an album, Ivy's third album Diva, was released in 2003. The songs were originally written by her and performed with the participation of various artists. It featured the hit songs "Quiero Bailar" and "Papi Te Quiero". After the United States RIAA certified that Diva had sold more than 100,000 copies and went Platinum,Diva (Platinum Edition) was released in 2004. The update to the CD added several remixes of her most popular songs from the Diva album. Ivy Queen's fourth album Real followed quickly and was also released in 2004. It featured the hit song "Dile". The album had guest artists such as Hector "El Father", Mikey Perfecto, Fat Joe, and La India. Ivy then released an LP entitled Real Streets on March 29, 2005.^[2] Ivy's first compilation album The Best of Ivy Queen was released the same year and was a compilation of her best work, which added 4 previously unreleased songs. On October 29, 2005 she released her fifth studio album titled Flashback. It contained the new singles "Cuentale" and "Libertad" along with the older hit "Quiero Bailar". The following year Ivy Queen, along with Gran Omar presented the reggaeton compilation album Cosa Nostra: Hip Hop. In April 2007, Ivy Queen released her sixth studio album entitled Sentimiento. The album debuted at No. 4 on the Latin charts, making it her highest debut ever on the charts. The lead single of the album "Que Lloren" became a Top 10 hit on the Latin Songs chart. The second single off the album "En Que Fallamos" peaked at No. 44 only to stay on the charts for two weeks.^[3] Then after going Platinum, on November 20, 2007, Sentimiento: Platinum Edition was released. After almost a year, in 2008, she released the single Dime, and she would focus on her seventh studio album. Ivy Queen then released her seventh studio album, Drama Queen on July 13, 2010. It stayed on the charts for 5 weeks, peaking at No. 3 making it her highest album peak ever. A deluxe edition of Drama Queen was then released in late 2010, in a CD/DVD combo. Since then, Ivy Queen has been working on her eighth studio album Musa, which is set to be released by at least June 2012.

Rivalries[link]

Calle 13[link]

After the 2008 Latin Grammys, where Calle 13 had won some awards for his use of Reggaeton in his music, Ivy Queen complained about them winning the awards and thought they should have went to "real" reggaeton artists. "She’s been a hypocrite with me. She’ll say hi and then she says these negative things later on. And I’m left saying, "My God, I can’t believe it." - Residente from Calle 13. Calle 13 then released a diss track "to all the crybabies of the Reggaeton genre" titled Q'Lloren. Which responded to Ivy Queen's single Que Lloren. In the song Q'Lloren he says Hey Ivy, I’m going to bring you a razor so you can cut your veins. She responded by releasing a song of her own title Tiraera A Calle 13. She would then go on to say "He doesn’t realize the grave mistake he is making. My 15 year career isn’t going to be tainted by someone that is always on a mushroom trip. I am not a hypocrite. I met him Residente and told him what I felt, and later I called him and told him: "I don’t know you, you don’t know me. I think it’s disrespectful that you are an alternative music artist and you get up to collect the reggaeton awards using our beat."

Temperamento and La Nina[link]

Reggaeton artist Termperamento and La Nina (LA-NEE-NA) released a song entitled "Tiraera Pa' Ivy Queen". The flow resembled that of Ivy Queen's hit single from 2003, "Quiero Bailar" and switched lyrics of the song from "Yo Quiero Bailar, to, Yo Quiero Matar" (English: I want to dance to I want to kill you) and Eso no quiero decir, que pa la cama voy with Eso no quiero decir que no te mato hoy (English: That doesn't mean, I'm going to your bed with that doesn't mean that I won't kill you today.) In the song they talk about her hair, face, nails, ears, breasts, and various other things. Ivy Queen would then responded with "No Hacen Na" (English: They Don't Do Anything).

Personal life[link]

Ivy Queen was previously married to fellow reggaeton artist Gran Omar and divorced in 2005. In 2008, she resumed her studies, intending to conclude her high school education. She stated that the reason behind this decision was to "deliver a message to young people".^[4]

Discography[link]

Studio albums

• 1997: En Mi Imperio
• 1998: The Original Rude Girl
• 2003: Diva
• 2004: Real
• 2005: Flashback
• 2007: Sentimiento
• 2010: Drama Queen
• 2012: Musa

Live albums

• 2008: Ivy Queen 2008 World Tour LIVE!

Collaborations/Compilations

• Boricuas NY (2001)
• DJ Nelson The Flow (2001)
• The Magestic (2002)
• Kilate (2002)
• The Flow: Sweet Dreams (2005)
• The Best of Ivy Queen (2005)
• Mas Flow 2 (2005)
• Millennium (2007)
• DJ Blazita Reggaeton Queen - Vol. 1 (2009)
• Golpe De Estado (2010)

Singles

2001[link]

• In The Zone (with Wyclef Jean)

2003[link]

• Papi Te Quiero
• Quiero Bailar
• Quiero Saber (featuring Gran Omar)
• Tuya Soy
• Guillaera (featuring Gran Omar)

2004[link]

• Dile

2005[link]

• Cuentalé
• Libertad
• Te He Querido, Te He Llorado

2007[link]

• Que Lloren
• En Que Fallamos

2008[link]

• Dime

2010[link]

• La Vida Es Así
• Amor Puro

2012[link]

• Peligro De Extincíon

Collaborations/Compilations

2001[link]

• Boricuas NY
• DJ Nelson The Flow

2002[link]

• The Magestic
• Kilates

2005[link]

• The Flow: Sweet Dreams
• The Best of Ivy Queen
• Mas Flow 2

2006[link]

• Reggaeton Hits
• The Kings of the Beats 2
• Mas Flow: Los Benjamins

2007[link]

• Millennium

2009[link]

• DJ Blazita Reggaeton Queen - Vol. 1

2010[link]

• Golpe De Estado
• Bachata Romantica #1

Features

1997[link]

• Novatos with Camaleón
• Que Locura with Gran Omar
• Representan with Gran Omar

1998[link]

• In The Zone with Wyclef Jean
• La Realidad with Alex D' Castro
• The King and Queen with Don Chezina
• Ritmo Latino with Víctor Vargas and WepaMan
• Jerigonza with Dayanara Torres

2001[link]

• Boricua's State of Mind with MC Ceja, Gran Omar, and Bimbo

2003[link]

• Guillaera with Gran Omar
• Quiero Saber with Gran Omar
• Money Making with Japanese and Gran Omar
• Bounce with Bimbo
• Dile Que Ya with K-7

2004[link]

• Mantando with Gran Omar
• Quitate Two with Fat Joe
• Intro - Los 12 Discipulos with Eddie Dee, Daddy Yankee, Tego Calderon, Vico C, Zion & Lennox, Nicky Jam, Voltio, Johnny Prez, Wiso G, and Gallego
• Rociarlos with Hector El Father and Gran Omar
• Entiende with DJ Blass
• Baila Así with Gran Omar
• Vas A Morir with Getto & Gastam
• Tocame with La India

2005[link]

• Dat Sexy Body with Sasha
• Ladies Night with Nina Sky

2006[link]

• Noche De Entierro (Nuestro Amor) - Remix with Daddy Yankee, Wisin & Yandel, Arcangel, and De La Ghetto
• Lo Nuestro Se Fue with Alex Rivera, Daddy Yankee, and Wisin
• Tu Tienes A Otra with N.O.R.E and Big Mato

2007[link]

• Que Lloren - Remix with Arcangel, Naldo & Tito El Bambino
• Se Desvive Por Ella - Remix with Jadiel y La Secta
• En Que Fallamos - Remix with Ken-Y
• Robarte Un Beso with Don Omar
• Amandote Asi with Mikey Perfecto
• Pobre Corazon with Divino
• Dale Azota with Tony Touch

2008[link]

• Lerere with Beatriz Luengo
• Te Regalo Amores - Remix with R.K.M & Ken-Y
• Mala with Yolandita Monge
• Dime - Remix with Jadiel
• Culo with PitBull

2009[link]

• Perfecto with Yaviah y Wisin & Yandel
• Warriors with Cosculluela & O'Neil
• Sangre with Mexicano 777
• Kimbara with DLG
• Permanent with Cosculluela, Franco "El Gorila", Chyno Nyno & Ñengo Flow
• Como Te Ha Ido with Naldo
• Bilingual with Remy Ma

2010[link]

• Acercate with Wisin & Yandel
• La Velita with Arcangel, Zion & Jadiel
• Se Va Conmigo with Carlos Arroyo
• Cosas De La Vida with Frank Reyes
• Jungle with Franco El Gorila
• Millon En Mi Maleta with Japanese
• De La Calle with De La Ghetto
• Intro with Gallego Mc Ceja, Guetto, Gastam & Consuela
• Echale with Vico C
• Quiere Pa' Que Te Quieran - Remix with Dyland & Lenny
• Amor a Primera Vista with Jadiel

2011[link]

• Dime - Remix with MC Ceja
• Dandole - Remix with Gocho and Jowell
• La Playa - Remix with Kafu Banton

Awards & Nominations[link]

Premios Juventud 2006[link]

• Diva Award/WINNER - Special Award for Meteoric Career

Furia Musical Awards 2006[link]

• Best Reggaeton Singer Of The Year/WINNER

Latin Grammy Awards 2007[link]

• Urban Album Of The Year

Premio Lo Nuestro 2008[link]

• Urban Album Of The Year/WINNER

Billboard Latin Music Awards 2009[link]

• Hot Latin Song Of The Year, Female/WINER
• Tropical Airplay Song Of The Year, Female/WINNER
• Latin Rhythm Airplay Of The Year

Billboard Latin Music Awards 2011[link]

• Hot Latin Song Of The Year, Female
• Top Latin Album Of The Year, Female

Latin Grammy Awards 2011[link]

• Urban Album Of The Year

See also[link]

	Puerto Rico portal
	Latin American music portal
	Biography portal

• List of famous Puerto Ricans

References[link]

External links[link]

• Ivy Queen "La Diva" Official Website