Jason Michael Weaver (born July 18, 1979) also known by his stage name J-Weav, is an American actor and singer. He is perhaps best known for his television roles as a pre-teenage Michael Jackson in the Emmy Award-winning 1992 miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream, and as the older brother Marcus Henderson on the WB sitcom Smart Guy.

Early life and career[link]

Weaver attended Illiana Christian High School in Lansing, Illinois and Thornwood High School in South Holland, Illinois.^{[citation needed]} One of Weaver's earliest acting roles was on Oprah Winfrey's 1990 television series Brewster Place. Among Weaver's most notable acting roles have been his portrayal of The Jackson 5-era Michael Jackson in the 1992 miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream, and his roles on the television sitcoms Thea (1993–1994) and Smart Guy (1997–1999).

In 2002, he appeared in Drumline with Nick Cannon, followed by a role in the The Ladykillers in 2004. In 2006, Weaver was featured in a supporting role in the film ATL starring rappers T.I. and Big Boi from OutKast. He also appears as an extra in the music video "Rock Yo Hips" by Crime Mob featuring Lil Scrappy and "Make Up Bag" by The-Dream featuring T.I.

Music career[link]

In addition to acting, Weaver is also a recording artist. He provided the vocals for the singing voice for the cub Simba in the 1994 film The Lion King.^[1] The following year, he released his debut album, Love Ambition, on Motown Records which was released on June 27, 1995.^[2]

In 2003, he collaborated with rapper Chingy on the track "One Call Away". The single was a Top 5 hit single in the United States.^[3]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• 1995: Love Ambition
• 1996: Stay with Me (EP)
• 2012: TBA

Singles[link]

• "Love Ambition (Call on Me)" (1995)
• "I Can't Stand the Pain" (1995)
• "Stay with Me" (1996)
• "Wish That I May" (1999)

Filmography[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Jason Weaver at the Internet Movie Database
• Jason Weaver on Myspace
• Jason Weaver discography at Discogs
• Jason Weaver at Allmusic

Robert Barisford "Bobby" Brown (born February 5, 1969) is an American R&B singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, and dancer.

Brown started his career as one of the frontmen of the pop group New Edition, from its inception as The Bricks in 1978 until his forced exit from the group in 1986 following a period of misbehavior on his part. Starting a solo career, he became a hit success with his second album, Don't Be Cruel, which spawned a number of hit singles including the co-self penned "My Prerogative", which became his signature hit. Brown had a string of top ten hits on various Billboard charts between 1986 and 1992, and is a recipient of a Grammy Award. Brown is noted as a pioneer of New Jack Swing music, a fusion of hip-hop and R&B.

Brown was most noted in recent years as the ex-husband of pop singer Whitney Houston. Brown and Houston later gained notoriety co-starring in the reality show, Being Bobby Brown.

Life and career[link]

Early life[link]

Brown was born in Boston as one of eight children to Herbert "Pops" and Carole Brown. Herbert was a construction worker and Carole was a schoolteacher. Brown and his family grew up in Roxbury's Orchard Park Projects. As a child, Brown got involved in petty theft including robbery later saying "I didn't wanna ask my mother or my father because they didn't have a lot of money", stating that whenever he saw something he wanted, "I'd just go to the store and take it." Brown also grew up around gangs. At ten, he was shot in the knee during a fight with a rival gang while attending a block party. Brown said his life reached a turning point at eleven after seeing one of his friends dead from multiple stab wounds at another party. Brown's brother Tommy would later say after that moment, Brown took "his career, schooling, his whole life more seriously." Brown's first taste of being onstage occurred at the age of three when one of his childhood idols, James Brown, performed in Boston.

Music career[link]

New Edition[link]

New Edition originally started as a trio formed by nine-year-old Brown and best friend Michael Bivins. Under the name, The Bricks, the group included another close friend, Ricky Bell. In 1981, the group grew to include a fourth member, Ralph Tresvant. The quartet became a quintet when their manager Brooke Payne insisted on bringing in his nephew Ronnie DeVoe, to complete the group. After performing in several talent shows in the Boston areas in 1982, they won a deal with Maurice Starr's label and released their debut album, Candy Girl. The title track became an instant million-seller in which Brown sung co-lead alongside Bell and Tresvant. Brown's first full lead vocal performance was on the New Edition ballad, "Jealous Girl", which was a minor hit when it charted in 1983. The group became pop sensations with their self-titled sophomore release. The album included the crossover hits "Cool It Now" and "Mr. Telephone Man", which Brown also co-led.

Despite the group's success, however, Brown felt the group was never rightfully paid the money they felt they had earned from their success, later saying "the most I saw from all the tours and all of the records we sold was $500 and a VCR." Brown also allegedly grew jealous of the attention given to fellow New Edition member Ralph Tresvant and during some of their tour performances, would often step out of his position and perform out of turn, performing seductively and singing, which caused hiccups from the group's management team. Brown was featured on two more New Edition albums before leaving the group in early 1986.^[1] Brown later said he felt that the group's management treated them "like little slaves by people who were only interested in money and power, and not in the welfare of New Edition." A little controversy arose over how Brown got kicked out. Some say Brown asked to be let out of New Edition but a VH-1 Behind the Music documentary on the group claimed Brown was voted out by the group via their management team, with some of the members, most prominently Michael Bivins, against the decision.

Solo career[link]

Following his exit, Brown signed a contract with his former group's label, MCA, which had earlier promised Brown a solo deal if he had decided to leave New Edition and also signed with manager Steven Machat, who also worked with New Edition. The label released his debut album, King of Stage, in 1986. Brown had a number-one R&B hit with the ballad, "Girlfriend" but the album didn't do well.

Brown laid low for more than a year working on his follow-up album. With the help of Machat and an MCA representative, Louil Silas, Brown began working with some of the top R&B producers and songwriters including Babyface, Antonio "L.A." Reid and Teddy Riley. The producers helped to compose what became Brown's most successful solo album to date, Don't Be Cruel. Released in 1988, the album launched five top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 including the number-one single, the self-penned "My Prerogative", which became, along with "Every Little Step" and the title track, signature hits for the performer. After topping both the pop and R&B charts, album sales eventually would reach eight million alone in the United States making it the best-selling album of 1989.

In 1989, Brown contributed two songs to the soundtrack of Ghostbusters II, in which he also appeared in a cameo role in the film. The leading track from the soundtrack, "On Our Own", became another top ten single for the singer, peaking at number two. The same year, a remix compilation, Dance! Ya Know It, was released and found fans in the United Kingdom, where Brown had a fan base and had major success. Brown ventured on a 120-day world tour to promote the Don't Be Cruel project in 1988. The tour became a success with Brown's former group New Edition sometimes opening for him. The tour lasted into 1990 but not without Brown gaining notoriety for simulating sexual acts onstage, which got him in trouble with the law.

Brown's next album, the Bobby album wouldn't come until 1992. While released during the final days of the new jack swing era, an era that Brown had dominated, the album did become a success, selling more than a million copies and spawning several hits including "Humpin' Around", "Get Away" and "Good Enough". However the sales of Bobby didn't match its predecessor. Some of that may have to do with Brown deciding not to continue his career as he was now married to his famous wife, Whitney Houston, who with Brown, contributed a UK hit with their duet, "Something in Common", from the Bobby album. Brown would release his fourth solo album, Forever, in 1997. Due to lack of promotion and Brown's desire to write and produce most of the tracks, the album tanked and the album's only single, "Feeling Inside", was not successful.

Prior to its release, Brown had been in negotiations with rapper Tupac Shakur to get signed to Shakur's new label Makaveli Records. However, Shakur died before that would take place. Leaving MCA following the release of Forever, Brown laid low for several years, re-emerging in 2002 where he was featured in a duet with rapper Ja Rule on the song "Thug Lovin'". Brown had been signed to Murder Inc. Records. However much like the situation with 2Pac, Murder Inc. began dissolving, leading to Brown's tenure with them brief. In 2006, Brown appeared adding vocals to Damian Marley's song "Beautiful" on Marley's album, Welcome to Jamrock. In 2010, Brown was featured in a duet with singer Macy Gray on the song "Real Love" off Gray's The Sellout. Gray explained to Essence^[2] about the project, saying "actually he came to the studio, since he doesn't live far, and knocked out his recording in two hours. We're friends and his one-year-old son is my godson. His fiancée is one of my best friends in the whole world. I met Bobby a long time ago, but we really got to know each other through her."^[3]

In 2012, after years of recording delays, Brown announced the release date for his fifth album, The Masterpiece, which is set for a release on June 5. Brown had previously previewed the album's contents by issuing two singles online including "Damaged" and "Get Out the Way" in 2010 and 2011 respectively. The first official single from The Masterpiece is a song called "Don't Let Me Die".

New Edition reunions[link]

Brown made his first reunited appearance with New Edition at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards. Their performance later sparked the recording of Bell Biv DeVoe's "Word to the Mutha!" in which Brown, Ralph Tresvant and later NE member Johnny Gill was included. A full-fledged reunion occurred with the 1996 release of the album, Home Again. Brown contributed lead vocals on two hit singles, "Hit Me Off" and "You Don't Have to Worry". However a subsequent 1997 tour to support the album led to problems between Brown and the other New Edition members. Brown later admitted that he was struggling with drug addiction and alcoholism during the tour.

In 2005, at the BET 25th anniversary special, Brown again reunited with New Edition to a receptive audience. In 2008, Brown, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill then formed a splinter group, Heads of State, to compete with Bell Biv DeVoe. At the 2009 BET Awards, following the death of the group's idol Michael Jackson, the six New Edition members again reunited to perform a medley of Jackson 5 hits in honor of Jackson. This sparked rumors of another full-fledged New Edition reunion, which was confirmed the following year. As of 2012, Brown and New Edition continue to perform together.

Film and television career[link]

Brown made his first acting debut making a guest appearance in the 1989 film, Ghostbusters II, playing the Mayor's Doorman. The following year, he appeared in the HBO kids show, Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme playing all three characters of Three Blind Mice. In 1995, he made another guest appearance in the film, Panther, and had a major role the following year on the Martin Lawrence film, A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. Brown made other guest appearances in the films, Two Can Play That Game, Gang of Roses, Nora's Hair Salon and Go for Broke.

In 2005, Brown signed a deal with Bravo to overlook the direction of the reality series, Being Bobby Brown, but it was said that he had to convince producers that his then-wife Whitney Houston would appear on the show. Houston later told Oprah Winfrey that she agreed to do it because she "loved him" and "did whatever he asked because I was his wife." The show lasted one season but received bad reviews in the duration of its run, leading to a fallout in both singers' careers. The show ended in 2006 after Houston refused to appear in a second season of the show. The couple divorced soon after.

In June 2007, Brown took part in the ITV television series "24 hours with...", a chat show format as celebrity and interviewer spend an intense 24 hours locked in a room together. The show's host, Jamie Campbell, asked Brown questions about his career and private life, and infamously joked about making "sexual moves" towards the singer. Brown was furious and threatened to beat Campbell up live on air.^[4] Brown's later tenures in reality shows included appearances on Celebrity Fit Club and Gone Country.

Personal life[link]

Family and relationships[link]

In 1986, Brown became a father at 17 when one of his girlfriends gave birth to his first son, Landon. In 1989, he started an affair with Kim Ward, who would become a mother to two of his children. Brown wrote in his alleged memoirs that he had been pursued by several female entertainers including Madonna. In 1989, Brown and singer Janet Jackson allegedly had a brief affair during Jackson's brief separation from Rene Elizondo. Brown later said he felt that Jackson's family wouldn't approve of her dating Brown due to Brown's reputation in the media and that Jackson's manager kept the news of their affair hidden from the public. Brown said Jackson broke up with him and noted it was the first time he had been dumped by someone else, stating the separation caused Brown's addiction to alcohol to grow.

After romancing Ward, they had two children, LaPrincia (b. 1990) and Robert Barisford Brown, Jr. (b. 1992). Brown and Ward's relationship ended in late 1991. Brown first met future wife Whitney Houston while both attended the Soul Train Music Awards in 1989. Brown and Houston's friendship grew after Brown attended Houston's birthday party later that same year. By late 1991, their friendship had developed into a romance that began shortly after Houston ended her alleged affair with comic Eddie Murphy and after Brown's affair with Ward, who later discovered she was pregnant with Bobby's second child following their breakup, ended. Brown later proposed marriage in April 1992 and the couple officially married on July 28 of the year outside Houston's New Jersey residence. On July 4, Houston and Brown's first child together was conceived, nine months later on March 4, their only child together, daughter Bobbi Kristina Houston-Brown, nicknamed "Krissy", was born. Despite more attempts to produce more children, Houston had several miscarriages.

Brown and Houston's marriage was tempered by rumors of Brown's infidelity and the couple's frequent drug use, which was often the subject of jokes at their expense especially on sketch shows, Saturday Night Live and, much frequently, MadTV, in which they were spoofed by actors Debra Wilson and Aries Spears. Spears' depiction of Brown was that of a jealous, verbally abusive, philandering cocaine-addicted drunk who bristled at his wife's more iconic popularity. Following fourteen years of marriage, Brown and Houston filed for legal separation in September 2006. Their divorce was finalized on April 24, 2007, with Houston receiving custody of their then-14-year-old daughter.^[5][6] On May 30, 2009, Brown had son Cassius with his partner of two years, manager Alicia Etheridge.^[7] Brown and Etheridge became engaged in May 2010, when Brown proposed during a performance at the Funk Fest in Jacksonville, Florida.^[8] The couple are due to marry in June 2012 in Hawaii.^[9] Brown's eldest son Landon is currently pursuing a career in music while daughter LaPrincia and son Bobby Jr. are attending college, Krissy is currently pursuing a career in acting.

In 1996, Brown found himself involved in a drive-by shooting in Boston while with his brother-in-law. His brother-in-law died from gunshot wounds from intruders, Brown narrowly escaped being shot. When police found Brown, he appeared to have been uninjured but was shaken and distraught. Brown's parents Carole and Herbert Brown died within a year of each other, Carole Brown dying in 2011 and Herbert "Pops" Brown dying in January 2012. Following the death of his ex-wife Houston the following February, Brown struggled to perform at a New Edition show the night of Houston's death, shouting, "I love you, Whitney", while in tears.^[10] Brown then excused himself from the stage and New Edition canceled their remaining show. Brown was invited to appear at Houston's memorial service at New Jersey but left before the service began. In an interview given to The Today Show in May of 2012, Brown said security was the reason why he and his family left Houston's service with Brown stating he loved Houston's family and told Matt Lauer that he had spent "14 beautiful years" with Houston as his wife. He also denied rumors that he introduced his wife to narcotics.^[11] Brown lives in the Atlanta city of Johns Creek.

Mental illness, substance abuse and legal problems[link]

As a child, Brown was diagnosed with ADD and was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his early thirties.^[12] Brown said that his drug of choice was marijuana and that he had developed alcoholism at an early age. Following his marriage to Houston, Brown began dabbling heavily into drug use. By the mid-1990s, he was not only addicted to cocaine and crack, but also heroin, which he often smoked along with marijuana. He and Houston would often smoke cocaine-laced weed in blunts.^[13] Following his separation and later divorce from Houston, Brown stopped using cocaine, crack and heroin though he admitted he still drinks but not as much as he did in his younger years.

During his tours, Brown would often be arrested and cited for lewd and lascivious content after simulating sex acts with random female audience members that he would bring onstage. Brown's legal problems however grew serious as he would be often arrested for several offenses over the years including drug possession, driving under the influence and driving while intoxicated. In a now-infamous 1996 arrest while in Florida, during a high-speed police chase, he crashed what was his wife's Mitshubishi, and would be later cited for resisting arrest after he yelled expletives at officers and allegedly performing public urination in the back of one of the squad cars.

In late 2003, Brown was arrested for misdemeanor battery, allegedly for striking Houston while shouting epithets.^[14] In February 2004, Brown was arrested and jailed in Georgia on a parole violation related to a previous drunk driving conviction. In June 2004, Brown was sentenced to 90 days in prison for missing three months of child support payments. That sentence was immediately suspended after Brown made back payments totaling about $15,000.^[15]

On March 26, 2012 Brown was arrested for DUI after being pulled over for allegedly using a cell phone while driving.

Discography[link]

• King of Stage (1986)
• Don't Be Cruel (1988)
• Bobby (1992)
• Forever (1997)
• The Masterpiece (2012)

Filmography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Bobby Brown Online
• Bobby Brown at the Internet Movie Database
• NEW Bobby Brown HD interview April 2010

Yung Joc
Background information
Birth name	Jasiel Robinson
Born	(1983-04-02) April 2, 1983 (age 29) Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Genres	Hip hop
Occupations	Rapper
Years active	2004–present
Labels	J Records, RCA Records, Swagg Team (CEO), Polo Grounds Music
Website	www.myspace.com/yungjoc

Jasiel Robinson (born April 2, 1983), better known by his stage name Yung Joc, is an American rapper.

Early life[link]

Robinson's father, Stanley Tucker, owned a hair-care products company and helped him get an opportunity to write a jingle for Revlon; Robinson founded his own label to release his music. In 2001 he married his high school sweetheart Alexandria Robinson and together they have three children, Ja'Kori, Amir, and Chase Robinson. (Jasiel has an older son Amoni from a previous relationship)^[1]

Music career[link]

New Joc City (2005-2006)[link]

Yung Joc met Atlanta producer Nitti Beatz and the two recorded the hit "It's Goin Down" in the spring of 2006. After Teaming with Russell "Block" Spencer, founder of the Block Enterprises label. Spencer signed Joc to Sean Combs's Bad Boy Records for a multi-million dollar deal, and Bad Boy released Joc's debut New Joc City that year. The album debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 selling nearly 150,000 copies in the first week^{[citation needed]}. The second week it fell to #7. It has since been certified gold by the RIAA selling over 500,000 copies.

^[1] Yung Joc was also featured on the songs "Show Stopper" by Danity Kane (from Diddy's Making The Band 4) & Cassie's album track Call U Out. Yung Joc is on 2006 "Forbes' Richest Rappers List", ranking at #20, having grossed approximately $10 million in 2006.^[2] "It's Goin' Down" reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart. The next single, "I Know U See It", reached #17 on the Hot 100 and #2 on the Hot Rap Tracks.

Hustlenomics & Grind Flu (2007-2009)[link]

Joc's next album, Hustlenomics, was released in 2007, with the singles "Coffee Shop" and "Bottle Poppin'". Hustlenomics sold 69,000 copies in its first week of release, debuting at number three on the Billboard 200.^[3] As of April 2009, it has sold approximately 197,000 copies according to Nielsen Soundscan. In 2007 Yung Joc was featured on his new artist Hotstylz single "Lookin Boy". During 2008 Yung Joc was featured in the hit singles on "Get Like Me, "So Fly" & "Beep". Then in 2009 he was featured on Day26 single Imma Put It on Her. Yung Joc released an independent album entitled Grind Flu for free on his label website Swagg Team Entertainment on August 11, 2009.^[4][5]

Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood (2010-present)[link]

Yung Joc recently released his first single from the album Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood entitled "Yeah Boy". They have also recently shot & released the music video for the single. Yung Joc has also stated in a December 26 interview, that he would love to work with New York based producer DJ Premier for a couple of tracks. The second single has been confirmed as "I Know What She Like" that features Yo Gotti.

On October 7, RCA Music Group announced it was disbanding J Records along with Arista Records and Jive Records. With the shutdown, Joc (and all other artists previously signed to these three labels) will release his future material (including Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood) on the RCA Records brand. His favorite NFL team is the Chicago Bears and his guardian angel is Brandon Fulton. ^{[6] [7]}

Other ventures[link]

Swagg Team Entertainment[link]

Joc has been said to have a new record label through Jive Records, called Swagg Team Entertainment. The label was formed after a widely-publicized lawsuit with Block Entertainment and Bad Boy Records. Joc spoke about the lawsuit and his relationship with Diddy in a recent interview.^[8]

Swagg Team Entertainment saw their debut from Chicago rap group Hotstylz; with their first single "Lookin Boy".^[9] It also saw the debut from Dallas rap group GS Boyz; their first single being "Stanky Legg."

Current artists

• Hotstylz (Krazee, Meatball & Raydio G)
• GS Boyz (Marc D, Slizz & DK)
• Swagg Team Mafia (To Green, Doe Shun, Dunte, Cheeze, Tuck & Jon Boi)
• Avery J.
• C MON3Y (Dolla Dolla Bill)
• J-DAM (Deployin Tha Love)
• Mr. Serious
• Concrete BoyZ

^[10]

Former artists

• Soufside
• Prince Charming

Discography[link]

• New Joc City (2006)
• Hustlenomics (2007)
• Jocin (2012)

Awards[link]

• BET Hip-Hop Awards
  • 2008, Hip-Hop Video of the Year ("Get Like Me") with David Banner & Chris Brown [Nominated]
  • 2006, Hip-Hop Video of the Year ("It's Goin' Down") [Nominated]
  • 2006, Hip-Hop Track of the Year ("It's Goin' Down") [Won]
  • 2006, Rookie of the Year [Nominated]
  • 2006, Hip-Hop MVP of the Year [Nominated]
  • 2006, Best Live Performance [Nominated]
  • 2006, Best Hip Hop Dance [Nominated]
• Grammy Awards
  • 2007, Best Rap Song ("It's Goin' Down") [Nominated]
• MTV Video Music Awards
  • 2006, Best Rap Video ("It's Goin' Down") [Nominated]
• Ozone Awards
  • 2007, Best Rap/R&B Collaboration ("Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')") with T-Pain [Nominated]
• Vibe Awards
  • 2007, Best Collaboration ("Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')") with T-Pain [Nominated]
  • 2007, Song of the Year ("Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')") with T-Pain [Won]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Yung Joc on Myspace
• Yung Joc on Twitter
• Yung Joc on Facebook
• Yung Joc at the Internet Movie Database
• Yung Joc Albums