Nina Sky coolie dances up the Billboard charts

Eighteen year-old identical twin sisters Natalie and Nicole Albino comprise the hot new female duo Nina Sky. Nina Sky's smash single Move Your Body, which is featured on the coolie dance rhythm, has been charging its way up the Billboard pop and R&B charts over the past month. Currently, Move Your Body is number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song is a collaboration between the twins, who wrote and co-produced it, and Hot 97FM DJ Cipha Sounds. After lacing their sultry harmonies over a promo on his mix show in November last year, Cipha facilitated their deal with Next Plateau (the label which was once home to veteran rap trio Salt-N-Pepa), and Universal Music four months later.

Raised in Queens, New York, the girls credit their older brother and their stepfather for instilling their passion for music.

"We had to appreciate everything from Bob Marley to Nirvana" says Natalie. Adds Nicole: "We want to show people that we are more than just that hot record."

The duo's next single is Time To Go, a response to Mario Winans' I Don't Wanna Know. Their song also sampled the Enya song Boadecia which Winans used in his hit song.
Dancehall producer Cordell 'Scatta' Burrell, who produced the coolie dance rhythm, said he got a call from representatives from Universal Music who wanted to use the coolie dance on the Nina Sky song. "Their record company called and requested the rhythm. They had tried other rhythms and they felt that the coolie dance would have been the better one that complimented the song," Burrell told this column on the weekend.

Added Burrell: "They have been contacting other dancehall producers for rhythms to use on their debut album. Greensleeves and my publishing company Aboode Music had negotiated with Universal in terms of clearance to use the coolie dance. Right now Move Your Body is making a big impact overseas, and it's hard to believe that the coolie dance rhythm has been released for over a year and it's just taking off outside of Jamaica."

Oh by the way, just in case you were wondering, Nina Sky is the first set of twins to reach the Billboard charts since Jagged Edge, the male group from Atlanta (which has twin brothers among its members), reached number six a few months ago with Walked Outta Heaven. Other groups or acts with twins among their members to have reached the Billboard charts include the Shangrilas (remember their big hit from 1964 Leader Of The Pack?) and former 1950's teen idol Ricky Nelson's twin sons Matthew and Gunar Nelson, who hit the charts in 1990 as Nelson with the #1 hit Love And Affection.

It's week number four for George Nooks

George Nooks' cover of Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water maintains its lock at the top of the New York reggae chart for a fourth consecutive week. The song debuted last week at number 10 on the South Florida reggae chart. Nooks has two other songs buzzing on the charts. They are God Bless Our Love and Sunny Days.

G-Unit member to release debut solo album

G-Unit member Lloyd Banks is to release his debut solo album The Hunger For More via Interscope Records on June 29. The first single On Fire is already burning up the Billboard rap, R&B and pop charts. It was produced by Eminem.

And rapper Cam'Ron, who blazed the charts with Oh Boy among other ditties, is to release Purple Haze, his fourth album on July 20. The album has already charted four singles on Billboard's R&B chart with Get Em Girls, Hey Lady featuring Freeky Zeeky, Shake featuring JR Writer and Lord You featuring Jaheim.

Kevin Lyttle and Elephant Man move up, while Beenie and Miss Thing tumble

Kevin Lyttle's Turn Me On featuring Spragga Benz moved up 10 spots to number 84 on the latest Billboard Hot 100 chart. Elephant Man's Jook Gal (Wine Wine) featuring Kip Rich, Young Bloodz and Twista inched up from number 83 to number 80. Meanwhile, Beenie Man and Miss Thing's Dude tumbled six spots down to number 44.

Teena Marie scores first pop hit in 16 years

Veteran rhythm and blues singer Teena Marie, better known for the 1980's dance numbers including Square Biz, Lover Girl and I Need Your Lovin, has released a new album for the Cash Money label. This is her first album of new recordings since 1995.

The first single Still In Love featuring Baby, debuted at number 70 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week. It is Teena's first hit on that chart since her 1988 number one R&B chart hit Ooh La La La peaked at number 85 on the Hot 100 chart.

Eamon's ex-girlfriend removes him from the top of the UK singles chart

British pop singer Eamon's I Don't Want You Back, which topped several charts across Europe a few weeks ago, was removed from the number one spot on the UK singles chart last week after spending four weeks on top. I Don't Want You back was pushed out of the hot seat by FURB. (F U Right Back) by Frankee. Frankee's song is a direct response to Eamon's chart topper, and her song had already peaked at number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on Billboard's R&B Singles Sales chart.

Ironically, Frankee and Eamon are former lovers.

Mariah Carey planning a major comeback

After being off the scene for a while, Mariah Carey is reportedly planning a carefully constructed plan to make a big comeback. The singer is working on a new album, and she is set to star in the stage version of The Prince And The Show Girl. She also has a television reality show in the making. In addition, the singer is looking at working with R Kelly, LA Reid and Kanye West to add some spice to her upcoming album.

BITS AND PIECES

TOK to embark on major European tour. The group's album Unknown Language is due for summer release. A new single, the follow up to Gal Yuh A Lead, is now being considered. The video for Gal Yuh A Lead is now in rotation on BET and MTV2.

So Macka Diamond was in good form at the Fame Road Party held at the Mas Camp last Saturday night. Reeling out Joe Grind, Try Wid Him and the chart hit Done Already on the thrilla rhythm, Macka sparkled throughout. She is set to perform this Saturday in St Ann at the stage show Fuel.

So Usher is spending a second week at number one on Billboard's Hot 100 chart with Burn. The song removed his very own song Yeah from number one. Usher's other single Confessions Part 2 is fast rising up the charts and could reach the top 10 by this week. However, if Confessions ambitiously removes Burn from number one, it would be the first time that one artiste has replaced himself at number one with three consecutive singles, since the Beatles did it in 1964. The British group did it 40 years ago when I Want To Hold Your Hand was replaced by She Loves You and then that song was replaced at number one by the group's Can't Buy Me Love.

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