- Qwanell 'Que' Mosley Explains Why He Left Day26
'They kicked me out,' Que says, citing differences with band's management.
By Jocelyn Vena
Qwanell "Que" Mosley
Photo: Bad Boy
After a video appeared online over the weekend of Day26's Qwanell "Que" Mosley announcing he was no longer with the band, his manager confirmed the split to MTV News on Monday (December 21). Que said the split had nothing to do with Diddy or Bad Boy, which his manager also confirmed.
In the video, Mosley, speaking from a recording studio where his management said he is currently working on solo music, says: "I love Day26 and I just wanted to move forward with my management. I feel bad for my brothers because they don't get it, and they making me seem like the bad guy. But no, MTV don't got control of this no more, I'm telling the world the truth, it's [Day26 manager Joseph 'Screwface' Charles] Screwface, it's not Puff.
"I love all my fans and I want y'all to know I think y'all should know the truth. I'm not here trying to put anybody down but the fans deserve the truth. I love y'all and I support Day26. I just want to move on because they don't want to get their business in order. God bless them. I'm in the studio working. I'm just moving on. I wish them the best."
On Monday, Mosley spoke to MTV News about the split, adding that the friction between him and his band took place earlier this year and came to a head recently, causing him to post the video announcing his departure from the group.
"I was so confused and lost because I never had an issue with Day26," he said. "We just had to fix our business. I have nothing bad to say about them. I just want to move forward because they sent me a letter saying they don't want to work with me. ... I only had the issue with management. I don't feel protected around them now. I don't feel safe. I don't feel like they're my brothers anymore.
"They kicked me out," he continued, adding that any other negotiations with the label were made without him. "This is my business and this is my life. I don't want to be kept in the dark. I want to be in control of my business. I never had a motive."
At press time, Charles had not responded to MTV News' requests for comment, and a rep for Day26's new label Atlantic Records had no official confirmation or further information about Mosley's departure.
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- Day26 Say Diddy Will Always Be Their 'Big Brother,' Despite Label Switch
'We still have the blessings of Diddy,' Willie Taylor says of 'Making the Band' mentor.
By Shaheem Reid
Day26's Willie Taylor and Qwanell Mosley
Photo: MTV News
Whatever label Diddy does business with, Day26 say they will always share a personal and professional bond with the man who made them famous.
"It really doesn't affect us," Willie Taylor said of Diddy's trek from Atlantic Records to Interscope. "Diddy left to go to Interscope. Big up to Diddy-Dirty Money. Day26 is still Atlantic. We still have the blessings of Diddy. Anything we need from him, he's like a big brother to us. The support is still there."
Day26 are in the midst of leaving Bad Boy Records, according to their spokesperson, but the guys say Diddy will most likely still be involved in their next album.
"He's not gone," Qwanell "Que" Mosley insisted. "He's there if he wants it. He's Diddy; we trust [his input]. He trusts us now to move on with our careers. It's kind of like a blessing."
The guys plan to handle the production side on many of their new songs.
"We gave you a sample on Forever in a Day," Willie said of the group's production skills. "If you read the credits, a lot of that is Day26. But we really wanna get in and zone out again, get the formula. We wanna go back to the Pentagons — they were amazing. Jazze Pha is amazing. [Bryan-Michael] Cox is amazing. We're reaching out. Sean Garrett — the Pen. T-Pain. We're gonna reach out. We're gonna spread the wings, but I think the bulk of the album is gonna come from Day26."
"Some artists we wanna work with are Jay-Z, Lil Wayne," Que added. "Eminem is doing his thing. Kanye, Diddy-Dirty Money. We wanna get everybody. Anybody who has any skills, we wanna work with them."
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- Day26's Willie Taylor Apologizes To Fans For Nude Photos
'It is incredibly disturbing that someone [would] distribute these private moments to the world,' he says in a statement.
By Shaheem Reid
Day26's Willie Taylor (file)
Photo: MTV News
Willie Taylor of Day26 is the latest celebrity to have nude photos of himself leaked to the Web. On Wednesday (September 16), photos of Taylor popped up on the gossip Web sites.
Taylor sent out a statement saying that the pictures were private and meant solely for his spouse's viewing.
"It has been brought to my attention that private and personal photos of mine are currently circulating the web," Taylor said in the statement. "As a man that is barely home with his family, my wife and I share some intimate moments the best way that we can. It is incredibly disturbing that someone with bad intentions would illegally hack into my e-mail account and distribute these private moments to the world. I ask that everyone respect the privacy of my family. Also, I offer my sincere apologies to my fans."
Taylor's relationship with his wife and son and the toll his busy schedule takes on them was a subject of an episode of "Making the Band" last season. Taylor and his group are back in the lab working on a new LP.
Last month, MTV News talked to Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz, who had his own private photos hit the Web, about how celebrities can cope with these scandals. When we spoke with him, "Twilight" star Ashley Greene and "High School Musical" actress Vanessa Hudgens were both dealing with their own recently leaked photos.
"Well, I handled it pretty terribly for the first 48 hours," Wentz said. "I mean, I quit my band and everything. But then what I realized is that it's not the worst thing on the planet that's ever gonna happen. [I] apologized to my mom, realized that the best way to not have pictures on the Internet is to never take the pictures at all, and then made fun of it."
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- Dawn Richard, Day26's Que Mosley On Paula Abdul's 'American Idol' Exit
Ex-Danity Kane singer says, 'We'll always miss her sensitive moments and her breakdowns!'
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Jayson Rodriguez
Que Mosley and Dawn Richard
Photo: MTV News
"American Idol" fans and stars from the show were stunned earlier this week when Paula Abdul announced that she's leaving the show
after eight seasons as one of its most popular judges. And, as Abdul considers her next move — and fans and "Idol" stars have reacted to the news — people all over the music industry are reacting with sadness to see the most sensitive judge on "Idol" leaving her post at the table.
"Well always miss her sensitive moments and her breakdowns!" former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard told MTV News at Kanye West's performance in New York on Wednesday. "It's like yin and yang. You can't have Simon without Paula and Randy. I guess we'll see." She later added she was on Team Paula and would love to see her make a comeback to the show somewhere down the line.
Richard's boyfriend and Day26 member Que Mosley added that he too is on Team Paula, and he always felt that Abdul made the chemistry bubble over at the judge's panel. Without her, he's not sure it will feel the same way. "The chemistry [will be missing]," he said. "We love Simon [and] Paula, and I think with Paula gone, 'American Idol' won't be the same."
Meanwhile former Cheetah Girl and MTV host Adrienne Bailon is sad to see Abdul leave, but knows she'll find success in whatever she does next. "I know I definitely enjoyed Paula being on the show," she said. "And I thought she balanced the other two out a bit," she said. "But I'm sure she's making a wise decision. She's always made great career choices. She'll figure it out."
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
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- Day26 Keep It Together, Danity Kane Don't On 'Making The Band' Finale
'There will never be another Danity Kane unless it's these girls here,' Diddy promises.
By Jocelyn Vena
Day26 at the finale of "Making the Band 4" on Thursday
Photo: Charles Eshelman/ Getty Images
Day26 had to own up to their issues during the season-three finale of "Making the Band 4," hosted by Sway on Thursday night.
All season, the group had fought over finances and creative control of their sound, even causing Diddy to send the band on a cruise without Qwanell Mosley. "It didn't feel right without Que," bandmember Brian Andrews said of the trip. Que added, "It was a wakeup call. I was lonely."
Diddy warned the boys that if they didn't keep themselves in check, they may end up like Danity Kane, whose many conflicts led Diddy to fire two members on last season's finale and one more last week.
Day26, along with castmate Donnie Klang, used Thursday night as an opportunity to clear the air. "Honestly, I was going through a lot. I apologize," Que said about his actions over the season. Will Turner added that things are now cool with Que, and the guys said that the group couldn't exist without him.
Klang, the show's only solo act, addressed the fact that he was overshadowed by the two groups. "It was frustrating, 'cause I love them, and obviously, it took up a lot of TV time, and I felt like I missed out," he said.
But the moment everyone was waiting for was when Diddy reunited with Danity Kane — minus Aundrea Fimbres, who opted not to come after being fired the previous week.
"I felt like I was the oracle," Dawn Richard, now the only DK member still signed to Bad Boy, said of her efforts to keep the group together. "I think this was a good journey for us."
Shannon Bex, who didn't come back to the show or the group this season, said she needed to take some time for herself and her marriage. "I was at a crossroads," she explained.
The girls still didn't really want to say who or what was to blame for the split, but D. Woods, one of the members Diddy fired last year, seemed to think it was a long time coming. "I will say that it was something that started from the beginning when this group was put together, and there wasn't a sound foundation," she said.
Aubrey O'Day, who at times was blamed for the breakup, added, "After being kicked out [last season], I learned you have to fight to stay happy, and that takes forgiveness of yourself."
"We had different agendas," Dawn said. "When we weren't happy, we started doing different things."
Then Diddy weighed in. "They were doing their best," he said. "I don't know the reasons they broke up. I tried. I don't think us talking about the past is going to get us anywhere."
Shannon tried to smooth things over, telling Diddy, "We don't take for granted you or any of our accomplishments."
After Diddy wished them well on their solo careers, the ladies were asked if they'd ever consider making DK work again. The consensus: not right now.
"I think if everything could work out absolutely," Aubrey said.
"I definitely feel like the season we had was wonderful," D. Woods said. "But right now, it's a new chapter."
Shannon was on the fence about a reunion. "I think, at this point in time, no not yet, but maybe one day we can come back together."
Diddy left the door open, promising that there'd be no DK without the original girls. "I think that everybody needs a time-out, but I will have this announcement: There will never be another Danity Kane unless it's these girls here," he said. Then he announced that he's looking for a new girl group and starting a new show. Meanwhile, he is releasing the DK girls to pursue solo deals — though Dawn's solo work will still be with Diddy on Bad Boy.
D. Woods also announced that she's working on music, and Shannon said she might go country next. And Aubrey said she is heading back to the stage — and getting her own reality show.
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- 'Hannah Montana' Album Finally Reaches Top Of Billboard Charts
'Making the Band' stars Day26 come in at #2 with their second album.
By Gil Kaufman
Miley Cyrus
Photo: Sheryl Nield
It took a few weeks, but Miley Cyrus will finally reach the top of the Billboard 200 charts with the soundtrack to the "Hannah Montana" movie. The album, which debuted at #2 three weeks ago and dipped down to #5 before bumping back up to the runner-up slot last week, will reach the pinnacle despite a 32 percent dip in sales thanks to 133,000 more units moved, putting Cyrus over the 500,000 mark.
That was more than enough to beat out the second album from Diddy's
Day26, Forever in a Day, which, with sales of 113,000, will bow in the #2 spot, just ahead of last week's #1, Rascal Flatts' Unstoppable, which plummeted nearly 70 percent after a strong debut with 107,000 units moved.
The only other debut in the top 10 was the surprisingly strong showing from Smashing Pumpkins-esque rockers Silversun Pickups, whose Swoon landed at #7 on sales of 43,000. The rest of the top 10 included: "Twilight Soundtrack" at #4 (49,000), Now 30 at #5 (45,000) , Jadakiss, Last Kiss at #6 (44,000), Lady Gaga, Fame at #8 (36,000), Jason Aldean, Wide Open at #9 (35,000) and Taylor Swift, Fearless at #10 (32,000).
As their star finally begins to rise in their own United States after years of megastardom in the U.K., Kings of Leon's eight-month-old Only By the Night jumped up 13 spots to #18 on sales of 19,000 as they kick off their first major U.S. arena tour.
Prince's three-disc Target-only Lotus Flow3r took a dive in its third week, dipping 67 percent on sales of 22,000 as it fell out of the top 10 to #15 and Kelly Clarkson's comeback hit, All I Ever Wanted notched its lowest chart position since its release more than a month ago, sliding down to #19 on sales of 19,000 after a 51 percent drop-off from the week before. She wasn't alone, though, with the exception of the Pickups' and Day26 chart debuts and the KOL's uptick, every other album in the top 20 suffered a double-digit decline, with nearly half getting slashed by 50 percent or more.
After charting with digital sales, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs leapt up nearly 20 spots to #27 with the physical release of It's Blitz!, which moved 14,000 copies. Fellow indie darlings Death Cab for Cutie also had a strong week with their Open Door EP, which hit stores last week after debuting online, moving up nearly 50 spots to #30 on sales of 13,000.
Jennifer Hudson definitely got the "American Idol" bump, as her nearly eight-month-old self-titled debut rocketed from #103 to #42 after her return to her old stomping grounds netted her 9,000 in sales, pushing the album over the 700,000 mark.
Way down at #158, My Morning Jacket's live EP, Celebracion De La Ciudad Natal, racked up more than 3,000 in sales and buzzy Beck-esque blues/rap act Cage the Elephant debuted at #171 with their self- titled album on sales of just over 3,000.
After months of talk and beef with 50 Cent, look for Rick Ross'
Deeper Than Rap next week, as well as the chart debuts from Asher Roth and Depeche Mode.
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- Day26 Don't Want To Be The Next Danity Kane
'We are going to be together forever,' Que says; 'Making the Band' season finale airs Thursday.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Day26
Photo: MTV News
This season of "Making the Band" is all about to come to an end when the live season finale airs Thursday night at 9 p.m. ET. Aubrey O'Day and the rest of the former Danity Kane members are rumored to be making appearances on the show, and Day26 will have a lot of explaining to do about their own behavior.
"I don't get tired of the cameras, because this is my job," Qwanell "Que" Mosley told MTV News about his sometimes-negative portrayal this season. "The story wasn't always completely honest, and even me looking at it, it's like, 'Man, this guy looks crazy.' "
Brian Andrews backed up his bandmate, even if the two had their issues during the season. "We are just like family," he said. "We have our differences. Sometimes family comes to blows. We all love each other. We all respect Day26, and Que is not crazy."
This season has been hard for all the guys, who have been dealing with the end of Danity Kane as well as financial and career-related issues of their own. "That's what the tears are all about," Will Taylor explained. "The show is real. We went through that. In my heart, I felt like this could be over."
Despite all the drama, fights and tears, they aren't willing to go the way of Danity Kane and allow the drama to break them up. "I know we are going to be together forever," Mosley explained. "Groups break up over that [drama], and for us to get over it and move forward with Day26, we will be together forever."
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- Diddy Puts Finishing Touches On Day26's New Album
'That's why Diddy is Diddy and that's why we're Day26,' Brian Andrews says of his boss' input on Forever in a Day.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Day26's Qwanell Mosley, Robert Curry and Brian Andrews
Photo: MTV News
Day26 weren't too pleased when their boss, Diddy, came in at the last minute to tinker with the band's album, Forever in a Day — after all, they were almost finished.
"It wasn't really much room left, not much time left to do anything," Robert Curry told MTV News. "The few changes that he did make ... of course we were already sold on what we had initially, so we didn't like the few changes that were made. But most of them ... a lot of them were very good for the album and, um, he didn't say anything for the rest of the album, so we had to give up something."
But looking back at what Diddy told the guys to adjust, they see why he has become such a successful music mogul. "As far as song selection, there were a couple of songs on the record that we felt like should have really been on the record," Brian Andrews said. "But now that I listen back to the entire album I see why he made the choices that he made. And it makes a lot of sense and really rounds the whole album off. So, um, that's why Diddy is Diddy and that's why we're Day26."
But the guys are quick to point out they didn't make the changes at the drop of a hat. In fact, Will Taylor describes the recording process for Forever as a "battle." "When we went in, we thought we knew we had had it," he explained. "We were like, 'This is it, please don't touch it.' But he came in and he was like, 'Nah playboy, I'm touching this, this and this, and I'm going to replace it with this.' "
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- Day26 Want Forever In A Day To 'Tear The Club Walls Down'
'This album is stank — and I mean that in a good way,' Mike McCluney says of LP, due April 14.
By Jocelyn Vena
Day26 in the "Imma Put It On Her" video
Photo: Bad Boy
Day26's debut album opened at #1 last year, and they hope to repeat that success with Forever in a Day, due April 14.
(You can hear all of Forever in a Day for free, prior to its release, on MTV.com.)
The "Making the Band" stars worked with The-Dream, Cassie, Jermaine Dupri and Mario Winans for the album, and for first single "I'mma Put It on Her," the guys managed to get their boss Diddy on the track, as well as Yung Joc.
When Day26 hit the studio back in February, they told MTV News they hoped to have a more club-friendly album this time around.
"While recording our first album and putting it out, we realized we didn't cater to the club as much as we needed to," Will Taylor said. "So this album, we're just dedicated to tearing the club walls down. The album is going to be ridiculous. We're going to show you the true Day26."
Even though there are a few collaborations on the album, the guys promise that unlike their debut, they had more of a hand in making this album.
"We do a lot of stuff ourselves. ... Last time, we didn't get nothing, zero," Mike McCluney said. "But this album, we got a couple songs. ... This album is stank — and I mean that in a good way."
"We're more involved as far as actually picking songs and the direction Day26 is going in," Robert Curry added. "We feel like we've grown tremendously. This project is going to be ridiculous."
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- New Day26 Album Unveiled At New York Listening Party
Forever in a Day due from chart-topping 'Making the Band' stars on April 14.
By Melanie Wolfson
Day26
Photo: MTV News
"Making the Band" stars Day26's forthcoming Bad Boy album, Forever in a Day, was unveiled at a listening party at Atlantic Records' New York headquarters.
Held, fittingly enough, in a lounge on the building's 26th floor, the room was filled with flickering candles, freshly cut flowers and Day26 posters. A television played footage of Day26 from "Making the Band," while a bar in the corner served drinks.
Bad Boy President Harve Pierre hosted the party, giving background on the highly anticipated second album from the group, which formed in 2007 when Diddy hand-picked the five members at the end of season four of "Making the Band."
Pierre took a moment to pause the music and tell guests how pleased he is with Day26. "There aren't that many good groups out there anymore, but Day26 is one of the greatest groups ever," he enthused.
Pierre noted that the first single from Forever in a Day, "Imma Put It on Her," features both Diddy and Young Joc. He also said that a T-Pain-produced track called "Shawty What's Up?" will have a video out on April 1 and will be featured on BET on Sunday, although the track does not appear on the new album.
The album is a mixture of pumping club tracks and radio-friendly hits. Among the other tracks that stood out were "Stadium Music," with a heavy bassline and smooth lyrics, and "Remix," which, when MTV News caught up with Day26 in the studio last month, bandmember Robert Curry described as "a metaphor song. ... It's our version of [Beyoncé's] 'Upgrade U.' "
Other artists featured on the 18-track album are The-Dream, Cassie and Jermaine Dupri.
Although the members of Day 26 were not in attendance, guests agreed that Forever in a Day seems likely to repeat the success of the group's debut, which debuted at the top of the Billboard albums chart in April of last year.
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