Black Eyed Peas front man will.i.am got political again this week, weighing in on why he and his group will be performing in China despite recent [unofficial] requests for artists to boycott the nation based on its relations with Tibet and an alleged link to the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. According to the BBC, will.i.am said it’s not appropriate to “punish a whole country.” “They have all this Chinese boycott stuff – they want to boycott the [2008 Olympic] games but do the people get punished when they have nothing to do with what's going on? …If you boycott China, when do they boycott America for what we're doing in Iraq?”

Alicia Keys is officially recruiting women via Myspace--in a search for a female back-up singer (who can also dance and already has a passport). The lady-talent (age 18 – 30) will join Keys on her world tour. If you’re the one, check out how to apply at www.myspace.com/AliciaKeys.

Also recognizing lady-talent is The Black Lily Film and Music Festival that launched yesterday (May 1) in Philadelphia. Performances this year include Jaguar Wright, Bahamadia, and Ladybug Mecca. For more information, visit www.blackLily.com