The commemorative CD/DVD “Change is Now: Renewing America’s Promise” features various artists such as Death Cab For Cutie, Will.I.Am, James Taylor, Lenny Kravitz, and Usher, just to name a few.  The CD/DVD is made to remember the inauguration of President Obama and features many artists that supported him during his campaign. The CD also includes parts from his many campaign speeches, starting with his first speech in February 2007 and ending with his acceptance speech on November 4 2008. After seeing the artists featured on the CD, I plan on buying the CD.  Here is the full cd:

 ”It’s a New Day” -will.i.am

“The Dream Is Real” -The Tony Rich Project

“All About the Love Again” -Stevie Wonder

“Can’t Stop” -Ozomatli

“Peace Be Upon Us” -Sheryl Crow

“There’s Hope” -India.Arie

“God is in the People” -Melissa Etheridge

“Change” -Lenny Kravitz

“Dreamworld” -Robin Thicke

“Pure Imagination (2009 version” -Maroon 5

“Hush” -Usher

“Born For This” -BeBe Winans

“What Light” -Wilco

“Shed a Little Light” -James Taylor

“The Star Spangled Banner” -Jennifer Hudson

“Eternity” -Lionel Richie

“Grapevine Fires” -Death Cab  For Cutie

“Changes” -Common

JACK WHITE & ADELE

Jack White is teaming up with the uprising Brit Adele. White is known for his collaborations, teaming up with artists such as Alica Keys. Adele is an uprising star here in the states from the UK, who’s music is a mix between pop and soul. After performing at Bonaroo, Adele met up with Jack to collaborate. Personally, I am a huge fan of Jack White myself, along with his band The White Stripes. I have heard his collaboration with Alica Keys that became the theme to one of the Bond movies, and I can’t stop listening to it. I am so excited to see what he can come up with alongside Adele.

MICHEAL JACKSON

Rumors have been flying that the king of pop is in need of a lunch transplant due to various life threatening illnesses. There were reports of him being 95% blind in his left eye, being able to barely talk and possibly being too weak for a lung translplant. But according to People Magazine, Miachael’s official spokes person says that these accusations were fabricated. Michael Jackson apparently is in good health and is planning a world tour and television appearances this year.

EMINEM

With help from long time mentor, Dr. Dre who put his own album “Detox” on hold, Eminem’s newest album “Relapse” is due next spring. Many of the songs on the album have already been leaked onto the web, such as “Crack the Bottle”. Also, Eminem shoots down rumors of follow up songs, such as “Stan 2″ saying it would be “corny” to do such a thing. Along with working on his new cd, Em was also working on writing his autobiography named after one of his older songs “The Way I Am” which has spent time on New York Times top 20. Along with Dre, Eminem is also working on 50 Cent’s newest album “Before I Self Destruct” and he says that a date has been set in February 2009 and he has new songs for him.

BRITNEY SPEARS

“So much has gone on over the last couple of years and there’s a lot that people

don’t know about me that I want them to know.” -Britney Spears

Britney Spears finally decided to set the record straight and allowed MTV to air her new 90 minute documentary. She opens up about her past and her poor decisions that are constantly being showed in the media (shaving her head, beating photographers with umbrellas and allowing her children to sit in the drivers seat with her while driving.. the list goes on). She decided to join forces with MTV in order to explain to the world about her choices, and how she is deciding to set things right in her life. For example she is now going to doctors for psychological treatment as well as having a better handle on her money and expences. Cameras follow her from her recording studio, to the set of her new music video for “womanizer” (CHECK THIS SONG OUT!) as well as all the way to her home town in Louisiana. Britney’s newest album “Circus” comes out today, December 2nd, which also happens to be her 27th birthday. Britney believes this will help with her new, positive, come back.

Ben Kweller has been out since 1993, yet he is still not well known, and he is one of my favorite artists. His music features country, acoustic, and alternative. This quirky 27 year old Texas native has toured with artists such as Ben Folds and Death Cab For Cutie. I just recently attended a Ben Kweller show in NYC about a month ago, and I must say, just like John Mayer, he sounds even better live than he does on his CD’s. His sincere and honest lyrics tell stories of his past, journeys and of course, falling in love. His latest self titled album “Ben Kweller” came out in 2006, recieving 3 out of 5 stars from Rolling Stone and 8 out of 10 stars from Yahoo! Music. At the moment, he is on tour in Europe, but his upcoming album “Changing Horses” is due 2009.

To check out Ben Kweller, visit:

http://www.kweller.net/

50 CENT

50 Cent’s new album “Before I Self Destruct” was originally supposed to be out on December 16, 2008. According to Interscope Records, 50 was struggling to meet the release date, and has decided to push back the album to sometime in early 2009, there is no specific date yet. The album features Dr. Dre and Eminem, 50′s long time mentors who also helped produce and create the album. The first single off the album, “Get Up” has already been released. Along with the album, 50 is working on a film, also titled “Before I Self Destruct” in which 50 plays a professional basketball player turned criminal.

In my opinion, “Get Up” is very well done, check it out.

read it, learn it, love it.