Weekend Flashback Performance: Destiny's Child At Michael Jackson Tribute

Following the news of Michael Jackson's 50th birthday this last week, I felt inclined to pay him tribute by way of one of Destiny's Child's finest performances. DC have always used a part of their song "Bootylicious," including a portion of the music video, to acknowledge the King of Pop's influence on them & this generation's group of performers. In this case, they played up the fact when they performed the song for Mr. Jackson himself. The girls showed off their talent at the height of their fame for the man himself & ended up with an excellent piece of work to look back on at, say, a time like this!

Kelly Rowland Performs "Part-Time Lover" On T-Mobile Transmission

Kelly Rowland performed the classic "Part-Time Lover" in Europe with The Script recently on T-Mobile Transmission. People seem to be liking this, but I kinda think it's a bit weird. It's still cool though to a certain extent ... & I would never hate on Kelly.

Album Review: Solange "SoL-AngeL & The Hadley St. Dreams"

With a mix of old-school soul, jazz, blues, & electronic, Solange has made quite a statement with her return to the music scene. Her unique new sound & creative visual aids make for a very interesting change to what we are used to in today's music industry. This go-round, Solange has demanded the attention of those who, like me, have always counted her out before. And for all who pay attention, you might be pleasantly surprised by how refreshing her material &, yes, talent really are.

Now, as much as I love SoL-AngeL & The Hadley St. Dreams, I have to start out--only briefly--with a somewhat negative critique. The album's opener "God Given Name" might state just how Solange Knowles feels about who she is & the comparisons she receives regarding her older, *slightly* more successful sister (Beyonce, for those in the dark), but I'm more one for showing who you really are & why you deserve our attention, rather than just saying it. The good thing is: just about all the rest of Solange's sophomore album does just that--in a pretty incredible way.

Solange gets going in an excellent way with "T.O.N.Y.," a creative & enjoyable song that starts demonstrating the sound Solange is going for in a wonderful way. "Dancing In The Dark" creates a lighter & very fun mood, while one of my favorites, "Would've Been The One," is a catchy, effective mix of old- & new-school music that has Solange demonstrating those Knowles pipes quite well. The album's second single "Sandcastle Disco," which anyone who reads this blog knows I'm basically a huge fan of, is followed by the first single "I Decided - Pt. 1," another tune that's great fun.

SoL-AngeL & The Hadley St. Dreams continues into a slower & seemingly more heartfelt section with "Valentine's Day" & "6 O'Clock Blues," which, as the latter's title suggests, has a refreshing blues-influenced vibe. I feel like I should apologize for it, but everytime I listen to the album, I completely forget "Ode To Marvin." The song is as nice as the next one, but just doesn't stick out I guess. I do, however, remember "I Told You So" quite well, which has Solange singing her booty off & includes those irresistible "ba-ba-ba"s.

A bit of a different sound then arises with the Bilal-assisted "Cosmic Journey." Another one of my favorites, it brings together the electronic-type music that I like & the R&B music that I've always loved. I applaud Solange for taking a chance with this song & doing a beautiful job of it. The album closes out with "This Bird," a tune with a similar subject (&, imo, problem) to the first track. However, Solange has a small speaking part in this song that I just love because her goofy personality is one of my favorite things about her & for her to include that side of her in her album is something I admire. "I Decided - Pt. 2," the Freemasons remix of Solange's first single released across the pond, is also included, which I am thankful for.

One thing that confuses me about SoL-AngeL & The Hadley St. Dreams (& don't get me wrong--it's neither a positive nor a negative) is the sequencing &, more specifically, the songs that were (&, more so, weren't) included. For example, some of the confirmed &/or bonus tracks that were left off the final tracklisting include "Champagnechroniknightcap" (with or without Lil' Wayne), "Wanna Go Back" (featuring Marsha Ambrosius & Q-Tip), the Estelle-assisted "Same Song, Different Man," "White Picket Dreams," & even Q-Tip's feature on "Sandcastle Disco." I only mention this because, of the ones I heard, any of these songs could have easily fit in with the rest of the album. Also, they are all good &, although I haven't heard the song with Estelle, anything with her is pure fire. I do wonder though if something happened that made Solange remove both of Q-Tip's features from the album...

Anyhow, I am pretty much obsessed with Solange's new album. SoL-AngeL & The Hadley St. Dreams is such a refreshing set with solid material & excellent execution. Solange has definitely proven that she can not only be a good artist, but a groundbreaking one as well. The world really needs a talented artist who can blend all that is great about music into one incredible sound.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Michael Jackson Interview On Good Morning America

As Michael Jackson turns 50 today, he talked over the phone to Good Morning America about the milestone, as well as his career & what's to come. It's quite rare these days to hear from MJ, so it was nice to get something, especially on this special day for him. Happy Birthday Michael!

The Pussycat Dolls Perform "When I Grow Up" On Today

The Pussycat Dolls performed their first single "When I Grow Up" off upcoming sophomore album Doll Domination (September 23rd) this morning on Today. The girls did their thing as usual. Go Nicole!

Jennifer Hudson Performs National Anthem At Democratic National Convention

Here's a video of Jennifer Hudson performing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Democratic National Convention. For anyone who hasn't seen "Dreamgirls" in a while or thinks they've forgotten just how talented J-Hud is, this one's for you. Jennifer has surely given us the latest classic rendition of the US National Anthem. Don't forget: Jennifer Hudson's self-titled debut album hits stores September 30th.

Christina Aguilera's "Inspire" Commercial

The new TV spot for Christina Aguilera's fragrance "Inspire" has premiered & it is quite beautiful.

Michelle Williams Performs On J&R MusicFest

"The Greatest"

"We Break The Dawn"

"Hello Heartbreak"

"Stop This Car"

So, as it turns out, Michelle Williams performed at the J&R MusicFest in NYC recently as well--& quite a large set at that. While her vocals during the performances were just alright, Michelle has a great energy onstage, which I love. Michelle performed four songs off her upcoming album Unexpected (October 7th) including first single "We Break The Dawn" & forthcoming second single "The Greatest," which is one of 'the greatest' songs on the album. Unexpected may not drop till October, but let's be real: the thing leaked. That said, Michelle has something very special on her hands, so I really hope Columbia can get the promotional job done with "The Greatest" in time for Unexpected to not only get released in October, but rock the charts as well. The material--& Michelle--are both worth it.

Solange & Beyonce On The Early Show

Interview

"I Decided"

Solange performed her first single "I Decided" off her new album SoL-AngeL & The Hadley St. Dreams (out now) on The Early Show, but that's not all. Beyonce & their mother Tina Knowles were interviewed about Solange in a segment that brought Solo to tears. Good stuff.

Kelly Rowland's Nike Commercial

Kelly Rowland will be performing for Nike's "Human Race" & is featured in a new commercial for the event. The ad features a pun involving her single "Work" that may be too easy, but it had me rofl.

Billboard Update

^This week's #1 album on the Billboard 200 chart
This week's #1 single on the Hot 100 chart^

See full charts HERE.

The dang Jonas Brothers extend their stay at the top of the Billboard 200 album chart this week with A Little Bit Longer, while the extremely underrated Karina debuts at #57 with her first album First Love. For whatever reason, T.I.'s "Whatever You Like" makes a record leap to top this week's Hot 100 singles chart, where Pink has the hot shot debut with her new single "So What" at #9. I just gotta give a shout-out to the wonderful Jazmine Sullivan as well because her first single "Need U Bad" jumps from #4-#1(!) on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart this week, while the song reaches a peak of #42 on this week's Hot 100 chart.

"Crush" Watch

TW: #15 - LW: #2 - Peak: #2 - Week: #2

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Solange Performs On J&R MusicFest

"Sandcastle Disco"

"I Decided"

Solange also performed at the J&R MusicFest in NYC recently. She sang the first two singles taken from her new album SoL-AngeL & The Hadley St. Dreams, which is out now. Gotta love how dedicated she is to her performances.

Ashanti Performs On J&R MusicFest

"Good Good"

"Body On Me"

Ashanti performed a couple of the singles off her latest album The Declaration in New York City's J&R MusicFest recently. I thought the "A Milli" beat played during "Good Good" worked really well, while the abbreviated "Body On Me" was a bit awkward, as Nelly & Akon weren't there. However, all-in-all, Ashanti did her thing & I'm glad to see her out promoting The Declaration.

Solange Performs "I Decided" On Today

Solange recently appeared on Today & performed her first single "I Decided" (after a brief interview) off her sophomore album SoL-AngeL & The Hadley St. Dreams, which was released this week. She did a good job. After kinda obsessing over "Sandcastle Disco" for the past couple weeks, this reminded me of my love for "I Decided" as well.

Jennifer Hudson Album Update + More

In a recent interview, both Jennifer Hudson & her interviewer spilled some beans relating to Jennifer's self-titled debut album, which drops on September 30th. Some song titles for the album were revealed including "Invisible" (produced by The Underdogs), "Pocketbook" (featuring Ludacris), & "Giving Myself To You." Check out how Jennifer describes another tune, "We Gon' Fight":

"It was produced by Tank. I’m a huge fan of his, & I thought the song was a great idea. I love the feeling of it. It’s very modern, but it has the elements of R&B."

The article also describes J-Hud's debut as having a "variety" of tracks "from blockbuster heart-renders to chic hip-hop-flavored experiments." I've been anxious for a while now to find out more about Jennifer's album, so this is quite satisfying. I am especially excited to hear that she will not only be displaying her magnificent voice on more "Dreamgirls"-like ballads, but will also be experimenting with some different sounds. I believe in Jennifer, so I know she has the talent to pull off any sound she goes for.

In related news, I thought I should mention that Jennifer has been hand-picked by Barack Obama to sing the National Anthem at the Democratic National Convention on the night Obama accepts the Democratic nomination for president. Congrats to her for that & I look forward to hearing her hit it out of the park!

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Paris Bennett Christmas Album Update

The rarest of occurences is one step closer to actually happening. An Idol alumni signed to an indie label is set to put out a promised release! When Paris Bennett announced her pregnancy, she also spoke of a holiday album to be released later this year. Well, with her child due in October, Paris has apparently decided to release her Christmas album A Royal Christmas in the same month. The set will include both traditional tunes (among them: "12 Days Of Christmas," "Little Drummer Boy," "Silent Night," & "Deck The Halls") & original tracks (including "Holla Day Shuffle" written by her mother, Jamecia Bennett). Considering I had stopped anticipating this release so as to not get disappointed like normal, I look forward to new music from Paris.

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Solange Performs "Sandcastle Disco" On Letterman

Solange was very much awake (to say the least) when she performed her latest single "Sandcastle Disco" on the Late Show With David Letterman last night. She was getting her 'Sasha' on lol--& rightfully so because it is one of the highlights on her new album SoL-AngeL & The Hadley St. Dreams, which is out today.

New Music Tuesday: Solange "SoL-AngeL"

The time has come for Solange to unleash her sophomore effort SoL-AngeL & The Hadley St. Dreams to the world, as it hits stores today. Solange brings something fresh & interesting to the industry with this album, so I definitely recommend it (you can purchase your copy by clicking the cover on the widget to your right). I will be reviewing the CD, which features the singles "I Decided" & "Sandcastle Disco," very soon.

Toni Braxton Joins Dancing With The Stars

While rumors of her participation have been all over the internet recently, it has now been confirmed that Toni Braxton will be a part of the upcoming season of Dancing With The Stars. Her partner will be Alec Mazo, who won the first season of the show. Dancing With The Stars' seventh season premieres Monday, September 22nd, on ABC. I'm all for Toni strutting her stuff on the show ... as long as the exposure leads to the release of that new album.

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Leona Lewis Performs "A Whole Lotta Love" At Olympic Closing Ceremony

Leona Lewis sang "A Whole Lotta Love" with Jimmy Page at the closing ceremony for the Beijing Olympics. I really enjoyed hearing Leona perform something other than her own singles, even if we didn't get to hear a whole lot due to commentators & such. It makes me excited about her talent all over again & anxious to hear what she has to offer with her follow-up to Spirit.

Weekend Flashback Performance: Christina Aguilera At The Late Show

In the midst of all the big awards show performances, every so often, a very special hidden gem arises. Recently, I ran across this Christina Aguilera performance from her Stripped era & fell in love. Here, Christina performs the album track "Walk Away" & creates a magical little moment for herself. This is the kind of performance that makes Christina such a special artist: every once in a while, she just 'strips' everything away & displays her amazing voice. Along with her talent, Christina brings along her emotions in the delivery of the song & it is just great. Hopefully with her next album, we will see more of this from Christina.

Sarah McLachlan "Closer" Details

Check out the gorgeous cover art for Closer: The Best Of Sarah McLachlan to the left. The set is due to be released on October 7th. In addition to 14 of her biggest hits, the collection will include two brand new studio tracks: "Don't Give Up On Us" & "U Want Me 2 Don't U?" I really got into Sarah's beautiful music when she released her most recent album Afterglow all the way back in 2003. Since then, I've discovered more & more of her classic music & it's simply wonderful. The new songs are great, considering it's the closest we've come in five years to a new album! Hopefully she'll release another one in the next year or two. To view the tracklisting for Closer, click HERE.

Cassie ft. Lil' Wayne "Official Girl" Video Premiere

"Official Girl," featuring Lil' Wayne, is the first single taken from Cassie's forthcoming sophomore album, which is due early next year. I like Cassie to a certain degree, but it's never been because of her talent. Some of her material has hot production that flows great with her soft vocals. "Official Girl," imo, is not one of those songs. I'm not all that impressed with the video either. Though it appears to be high budget, the money seems to have been wasted. Sure, she's doing what she does best the whole time--looking good--but that's all. No emotion, practically no story. While I'm not trying to bash Cassie, I would hate for her to see more success than the (many) more deserving artists.

Pink "So What" Video Premiere

"So What" is the first single off Pink's upcoming fifth studio album Funhouse (October 28th). I love, love, love it! With videos like this, "Stupid Girls," & "Trouble," Pink has become quite the master of music videos. I also think it's awesome that her estranged husband Carey Hart is in the clip. Pink is too cool.

Jazmine Sullivan Performs "Need U Bad" On 106 & Park

Yesterday, Jazmine Sullivan rocked the house over at 106 & Park when she performed her first single "Need U Bad," the current #1 video on their countdown! Jazmine has become quite a little obsession for me lately. In case you didn't know, THIS is how you perform. Her debut album Fearless will be out September 23rd.

John Legend ft. Andre 3000 "Green Light" Video Premiere

"Green Light," featuring Andre 3000, is the first single from John Legend's new album Evolver (October 28th). I've always felt about John Legend, well, the way he demonstrates at the beginning of the video. However, I'm really feeling this new one of his. Andre 3000 definitely adds a lil' something special. Also, look out for John's artist Estelle to make a cameo towards the beginning.

PCD TV Episode 6

So, The Pussycat Dolls tell us all about their dancing in their newest webisode. "Chest pumpage" LOL. PCD's sophomore album Doll Domination will be in stores September 23rd.

New Christina Aguilera Perfume Ad

Christina Aguilera has a new print ad out for her latest perfume "Inspire." She looks beautiful, which goes without saying because she never doesn't.

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Maroon 5 "Goodnight Goodnight" Video Premiere

"Goodnight Goodnight" is the latest single off Maroon 5's sophomore album It Won't Be Soon Before Long. I think it's cool that they took a creative angle at making this video & I like it ... even if it is a bit overwhelming.

Gwen Stefani Gives Birth To Boy #2

Gwen Stefani gave birth to her second child earlier today. Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale (8 pounds, 5 ounces) is the son of Gwen & Gavin Rossdale, her husband, & brother to Kingston, 2, the couple's first child together. A statement declares all to be "happy & healthy," so congrats to the whole family. Gotta feel sorry for that newborn, though... Just sayin'.

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"Just Stand Up" Song Premiere

Here's your first listen of the new charity single "Just Stand Up," which features 15 of today's biggest female artists including Mariah Carey, Keyshia Cole, Beyonce, Leona Lewis, Ciara, & more. (If you can't already, you can easily read all of their names by clicking 'play.') The single will be available exclusively on iTunes beginning September 2nd. To read more about "Just Stand Up" & the charity behind it, simply click HERE to read my previous article concerning this subject. Also, for anyone who, like me, can't seem to point out where, say, 5 or 6 of the singers do their part in the song, the lyrics with accompanying artist names can be found HERE. The ladies did a wonderful job.

Billboard Update: Archey 'Crush'es The Competition!

^This week's #1 album on the Billboard 200 chart

This week's #1 single on the Hot 100 chart^

See full charts HERE.

Alright, let's get the necessary stuff out of the way. #1 album: Jonas Brothers A Little Bit Longer. Blah. #1 single: Rihanna "Disturbia." Good for her. OK! Now for the good stuff...

By selling a whopping 166,000 copies, David Archuleta debuted at an ASTOUNDING #2 on this week's Billboard Hot 100 chart with his first single "Crush" from his forthcoming debut album, which is expected to be released on November 4th. Now, let me remind you to *breathe*. Seriously ... because you're gonna need the oxygen before reading these mind-blowingly exciting stats:

• The highest debut on the Hot 100 of 2008
• The highest debut ever on the Hot 100 for an American Idol song not performed on the series
• Archey’s peak position to date on the Hot 100 is higher than the winner, David Cook

...& that's just some of them! Well, let me be the first (doubtful--lol) to say: YAY!! Go David Archuleta!!! :) (I told the world he was the better David. They finally listened!)

"I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time" Watch
TW: #58 - LW: #61 - Peak: #58 - Week: #6

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Brandy "Right Here (Departed)": Behind-The-Scenes + More

Here's a sneak peek of Brandy's new video for "Right Here (Departed)," the first single off her fifth studio album Human (November 11th). MTV was on the scene & talked a bit to Brandy about her 'comeback.' Apparently, B-Rocka has quite the 'comeback' planned indeed because she will be appearing on Oprah on November 10th, the day before her new album drops. Who else is in heaven right now?

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Pink, Rihanna Set To Perform At VMAs + More

Finally, a couple of decent acts have been added to the lineup of performers for the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards. Pink has signed on to perform her new single "So What," which is taken from her forthcoming album Funhouse (October 28th). Apparently, Pink plans to "blow stuff up" during the performance! Also, Rihanna will take the stage to perform her chart-topper "Disturbia," the latest single off her recent re-release Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded. (To read about the other performers, click HERE.) In related news, Pink will premiere her video for "So What" on tomorrow's season finale of FNMTV. The other premieres will come from Cassie ("Official Girl" with Lil' Wayne) & John Legend ("Green Light" with Andre 3000). Check out an advertisement for the episode below:

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Jennifer Hudson Performs "Spotlight" On 106 & Park's 2000th Episode

Jennifer Hudson stopped by 106 & Park for their 2000th episode, which also featured appearances by artists like Keyshia Cole & Keri Hilson, to help them celebrate by performing her single "Spotlight" from her upcoming self-titled debut album (September 30th). It was cool to see J-Hud really get into the performance & she was totally on-point. Love her.

New Keyshia Cole Haircare Ad

Check out this new haircare ad that features Keyshia Cole. I've got nothing but love for Keyshia, but I can't say I'm quite on board with the look here... Nonetheless, Keyshia is set to drop her third studio album, which will surely be a winner, in December.

Jordin Sparks Performs "One Step At A Time" On Good Morning America

My future wife Jordin Sparks appeared this morning on Good Morning America to give a short interview & perform her current single "One Step At A Time," the third off her self-titled debut album. Jordin looked & sounded great, but she never doesn't. Yay for finally finding something worthwhile to post about today!

Album Review: Karina "First Love"

17-year-old Karina is already a strong vocalist ready to take the music industry by storm. When Karina first hit the scene, she was "16 @ War," showing that she has a mature attitude to go along with her mature vocal ability. Luckily for us, both of these attributes contribute to Karina's solid debut CD First Love, which has a wonderful balance of upbeat tunes, midtempos, & ballads. Not only does this young singer show great potential with her debut, but she also fulfills that potential to a large extent.

First Love starts off with the banger "90's Baby." As the sucker that I am for a good uptempo track, I found this to be the perfect way to grab the listener's attention, as well as describe to her audience just who they are dealing with. The upbeat feel continues with the Lil' Mama-assisted "Baby, Baby," another solid & enjoyable song. Second single "Can't Find The Words" slows it down a bit. If radio would pay attention to this song, it would light up the airwaves. The album's first single "16 @ War" is next, followed by "Winner," which just so happens to be quite an appropriate title. It really hits hard & seems like a track that belongs to, & only to, Karina.

"Can You Handle It" comes next & is a nice tune that deals with issues that are appropriate for Karina's young age. The catchy slow jam "The Love We Got" & cool uptempo "They Ain't Gotta Love You" compliment eachother well with their similar subject matter & excellent vocal display. Karina really starts showing off her vocal chops with the ballad "Slow Motion." Then, her two aforementioned attributes are displayed well in the album's last two tracks. "Can't Bring Me Down" is a declaration of the strength Karina has developed at this point in her life & the title track "First Love" is a very enjoyable finale that has Karina describing what music means to her.

Most of the tracks on First Love are great, some are just good, but the talent of this new artist is nothing short of extraordinary. Karina's debut is a fun & interesting listen that brings a fine young vocalist to our attention. With any luck, the world will look up & recognize a real singer when they hear one. Either way, I plan to enjoy First Love & look forward to what Karina has to offer us in the future.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Jazmine Sullivan, Keri Hilson Featured On "Discover & Download"

A couple of today's most promising new artists are currently being featured on MTV's "Discover & Download." The service allows you to discover new artists & download their current singles. J Records' Jazmine Sullivan has been chosen for the program & her first single "Need U Bad," which comes from her forthcoming debut album Fearless (September 23rd), is available to download HERE. I'm really digging the thought of more people getting the chance to experience her incredible talent.

Another newcomer currently featured on "Discover & Download" is Keri Hilson. After establishing a successful career, Keri has now set her sights on a singing career. Her debut single "Energy," taken from her upcoming debut album In A Perfect World... (October 7th), can be downloaded HERE as well. Keri Hilson has also proven herself to be an exceptional talent by establishing a decent-sized internet fanbase. Note: Check out the alternate single cover for Keri's "Energy" to the right. I has posted the original cover, so I thought I'd (finally) share the new one with you.

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New Music Tuesday: Karina "First Love"

After what feels like forever, some good new music has hit stores today. The long-awaited debut album from Karina, First Love, which features the singles "16 @ War" & "Can't Find The Words," is out now! First Love seems to be priced quite nicely, so feel free to pick up your copy by clicking the cover on the widget to your right. My (positive!) review will be up shortly for the CD.

Mariah, Others Stand Up To Cancer

Some of today's most accomplished female artists like Mariah Carey, Keyshia Cole, Beyonce, Leona Lewis, Ciara, Rihanna, Fergie, Natasha Bedingfield, Carrie Underwood, Ashanti, & Mary J. Blige are coming together in support of Stand Up To Cancer for the charity single "Just Stand Up." A performance premiere of the song will occur on Friday, September 5th @ 8/7c when NBC, ABC, & CBS all come together in an unprecedented television event in honor of the cause. "Just Stand Up" will be serviced to radio & be exclusively available for purchase via iTunes beginning September 2nd. It's quite a special event when this many big names come together in support of a disease. This is a very good look.

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"The Secret Life Of Bees" Movie Trailer

Jennifer Hudson stars in this adaptation of the best-selling novel "The Secret Life Of Bees." Also starring are Alicia Keys, Dakota Fanning, & Queen Latifah. Looks like a winner. "The Secret Life Of Bees" opens October 17th.

Katharine McPhee "I Know What Boys Like" Video Premiere

Here's the video premiere for "I Know What Boys Like," the Katharine McPhee (& cast) song taken from her new movie "The House Bunny," which hits theaters Friday. Good to know that Kat doesn't contribute to the strange rap portions of the track. Still, I am hoping her forthcoming sophomore album will consist more of material similar to her leaked track "I Will Be There With You."

Mario Works With Joe, Keyshia Cole

He may technically be between albums at the moment, but I haven't posted much music-related about my favorite male R&B artist, so here's an update on Mario. He will be featured alongside Joe on the latter's track "Last Sip," [LISTEN] which comes from Joe's upcoming album New Man. I must admit that I've slept on Joe pretty badly myself (I only really ever paid attention to him during his feature on Mariah's "Thank God I Found You"), so I plan to change that in the near future. Also, Mario was recently featured on the remix to Keyshia Cole's R&B chart-topper "Heaven Sent," [LISTEN] which even made a (brief) appearance on my 'Songs Of The Moment' list to the right. It was quite a collaboration, however, as I am also a huge fan of Keyshia. It seems that, in addition to his stint on last season's Dancing With The Stars, Mario is doing a few features to get/keep his name out there to ensure a more successful fourth album. It still kills me to think of what a shame it is how slept on Mario's third effort Go was. Really great stuff right there.

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Estelle ft. Cee-Lo "Pretty Please (Love Me)" Video Premiere

"Pretty Please (Love Me)," featuring Cee-Lo, is the fourth single off Estelle's recent album Shine, my review for which can be read by clicking the 'album reviews' label on the right. At first I was somewhat puzzled by the single choice, as it is a track placed later in the tracklisting, but I figured, with Cee-Lo in the mix, the track has a shot at success. It also appears that singles are dropping fairly quickly from this project ... while "American Boy" (the second single) is still riding high over here in the US. Nonetheless, Estelle has a worldwide audience, so the more music videos, the merrier. I quite like this one, though Cee-Lo doesn't appear in it; however, many other celebrities do.

OneRepublic "Mercy" Video Premiere

"Mercy" is the fourth single off OneRepublic's debut album Dreaming Out Loud. This one disappointed me. They did the black & white/color thing with their last video & at least that one had a better song.

Jazmine Sullivan "Fearless" Tracklisting

Speaking of unique artists, here's a tracklisting from another one. Jazmine Sullivan's long-awaited debut album Fearless comes out September 23rd & this is what you'll get when you purchase it:

1. Bust Your Windows
2. Need U Bad
3. My Foolish Heart
4. Lions, Tigers & Bears
5. Call Me Guilty
6. One Night Stand
7. After The Hurricane
8. Live A Lie
9. Dream Big
10. Switch!
11. Fear
12. In Love With Another Man

Too awesome! It's like all the songs on my playlist right now along with a whole batch of songs sure to be amazing that I haven't even heard yet! Jazmine Sullivan is truly an incredible talent & I'm really anticipating her debut.

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Solange "SoL-AngeL" Tracklisting

A confirmed tracklisting for Solange's sophomore album SoL-AngeL & The Hadley St. Dreams (August 26th) has finally been revealed. Check it out below:

1. God Given Name
2. T.O.N.Y.
3. Dancing In The Dark
4. Would've Been The One
5. Sandcastle Disco
6. I Decided
7. Valentine's Day
8. 6 O'Clock Blues
9. Ode To Marvin
10. I Told You So
11. Cosmic Journey (ft. Bilal)
12. This Bird
13. I Decided, Pt. 2
14. Champagnechroniknightcap

From what I've heard so far, Solange appears to have a winner on her hands with this project. I am loving these artists who have been doing their own thing lately.

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Weekend Flashback Performance: Destiny's Child At The 2001 Grammys

Ah, the days when DC3 reigned. Last night, I suddenly had the urge to watch "Charlie's Angels," so I pulled out my DVD & did just that. Courtesy of the credits at the end, I felt inclined to head straight to the special features menu & select Destiny's Child's "Independent Women Part 1" music video. As I enjoyed, I began to realize just how much I miss the group. Beyonce's B'Day, Kelly's Ms. Kelly, & Michelle's Unexpected have provided some of my favorite music of the last couple years, so Destiny's Child has become what would be somewhat of a supergroup. Naturally, I was reminded of their 2001 Grammy Awards performance, a medley of "Independent Women" & "Say My Name," which took place on a very special night for the group--the night they won their very first Grammys. An irreplaceable magic was created when these talented ladies were together, so it's always fun to relive the good ol' days. (Note: Sorry about the tags...)

Solange "Sandcastle Disco" Video Premiere

"Sandcastle Disco" is the second single off Solange's sophomore album SoL-AngeL & The Hadley St. Dreams (August 26th). First off, lemme just say: how can anyone not LOVE this song? Anyway, the video, which Solange directed herself, is really incredible. It fits the song perfectly, visually creating what a 'sandcastle disco' just might be. Very entertaining.

Brandy Album Update

Epic is really trying to spoil us Brandy fans this week! Following the new music & pictures, it has been announced that Brandy's new album will be titled Human & is set to be released on November 11th. Here's how Brandy describes her fifth studio album Human:

“Human is my most personal album to date,” said Brandy. “I have grown so much since my last album. Being able to express myself & my journey through my music is a feeling I can’t describe. With this new chapter of my life it feels good to have Rodney, a familiar face, by my side again. He brings out emotions in me like nobody else.”

The 'Rodney' Brandy speaks of is Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, the producer she worked with on my personal favorite B-Rocka album to date (Full Moon), so I'm glad the two are back together. More details have emerged about Human, including a few song titles: "Fall," which has previously leaked & was co-written by Natasha Bedingfield, "Long Distance," "Piano Man," & "Torn Down." Also, Brandy is collaborating with Brian Kennedy (Rihanna's "Disturbia"), RedOne (Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie"), & James Fauntleroy (Jordin Sparks' "No Air"). Lastly, Brandy's first single "Right Here (Departed)" will be released on August 26th & will impact Pop radio on September 16th. Yippee!!

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Last '08 MTV VMA Nominees Announced

Video Of The Year

• The Pussycat Dolls "When I Grow Up"
• Britney Spears "Piece Of Me"
• Chris Brown "Forever"
• The Ting Tings "Shut Up & Let Me Go"
• Jonas Brothers "Burnin' Up"

Best Rock Video

• Paramore "crushcrushcrush"
• Linkin Park "Shadow Of The Day"
• Foo Fighters "The Pretender"
• Slipknot "Psychosocial"
• Fall Out Boy "Beat It"

Well, this is quite a letdown. The best video of the year, Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body," didn't get a nomination in the top category ... & yet, Britney's only half-decent video for "Piece Of Me" got a pity nomination ... go figure. Anyway, that forces me to choose The Pussycat Dolls' "When I Grow Up" as my pick for the (unlikely) win. As far as Best Rock Video, that is one category that doesn't do much for me, but I'll have to go with the only choice I can stand: Paramore's "crushcrushcrush."

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Monica "Rolling Out" Magazine Cover + Bonus

Here's Monica on a recent cover of Rolling Out magazine. The singer is back at the same time as her "Boy Is Mine" collaborator Brandy, so needless to say I'm quite giddy. Anyhow, since the cover is somewhat small, check out the cover for Monica's new single "Still Standing" below:

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Ashlee Simpson's Zellers Commercial

Check out the now-pregnant Ashlee Simpson in this new commercial for Zellers. I've never heard of Zellers, but apparently they have enough money to hire Ashlee.

New Brandy Promo Pics

As Brandy's new single has finally premiered, her revamped official site brings us a whole bunch of new promotional photos. B-Rocka looks stunning in every shot. In what is set to be quite a competitive season, Brandy's album ranks as one of my most anticipated releases of this fall.

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New Britney 2008 MTV VMA Promo

Check out the third TV spot for the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards featuring both Britney Spears & this year's host Russell Brand. Funny stuff. Check out the show on September 7th.

New Jazmine Sullivan Promo Pics

Check out these gorgeous new promotional photos of Jazmine Sullivan, arguably my favorite newcomer of recent memory. Jazmine's debut album Fearless comes out September 23rd & I simply can't wait!

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New Pussycat Dolls Promo Pic

Here's a hot new promotional photo of The Pussycat Dolls. Look for their sophomore album Doll Domination, dropping September 16th.

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Billboard Update

^This week's #1 album on the Billboard 200 chart
This week's #1 single on the Hot 100 chart^

See full charts HERE.

In its fifth week of release, the soundtrack to the movie "Mamma Mia!" tops the Billboard 200 album chart. Also, finally ending Katy Perry's reign atop the Hot 100 singles chart is Rihanna with "Disturbia," which is quite an improvement over "I Kissed A Girl."

"I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time" Watch
TW: #61 - LW: #70 - Peak: #61 - Week: #5

Jennifer Hudson "Billboard" Magazine Cover

Check out Jennifer Hudson looking fab on the cover of Billboard magazine's latest issue. The photo comes from the same shoot as J-Hud's album cover; speaking of which, Jennifer Hudson's self-titled debut album hits stores September 30th.

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Brandy "Right Here (Departed)" Song Premiere

Check out the cover art for Brandy's first single "Right Here (Departed)" off her upcoming fifth studio album above. Brandy has premiered the song on her official site, so by all means, listen to "Right Here (Departed)" HERE! B-Rocka really hit it outta the park with this one!

David Archuleta's "Crush" #1 On iTunes!

So, not only is the amazing David Archuleta's first single "Crush" (my favorite song right now!) out on iTunes, but the song is already THE #1 track on there! Very exciting stuff! I would definitely recommend purchasing your copy of "Crush" HERE.

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Michelle Williams On The Wendy Williams Show

"We Break The Dawn"

Interview

Michelle Williams was recently a guest on The Wendy Williams Show, where she performed her single "We Break The Dawn," which comes from her upcoming album Unexpected (October 7th), & took part in an interview with Wendy. The interviews from Wendy Williams are always the most entertaining. Michelle also did very well with the song. I also have to say that Michelle is looking very nice!

Jazmine Sullivan "Fearless" Cover

Check out the cover of Jazmine Sullivan's debut album Fearless, due out September 23rd. I get the look they are going for, so that's cool. I also like the picture they used, even if it's the only one they ever use. What matters the most to me, however, is the music within. I cannot wait for this one!

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Britney Spears "OK!" Magazine Cover

Britney Spears is finally opening up to OK! magazine for their latest issue. Britney did her first interview in two years, as well as an at-home photoshoot with her two sons. Check out more by picking up a copy of OK!, on newsstands tomorrow. I plan to get mine!

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The Veronicas "Take Me On The Floor" Video Premiere

"Take Me On The Floor" is the fourth (Australian) single off The Veronicas' sophomore album Hook Me Up, which will be released physically in the US on September 16th. The girls take a page from both Kelly Rowland's "Work" visually & Katy Perry's "I Kissed A Girl" audibly with their latest.

Michelle Williams Performs "We Break The Dawn" On The Early Show

Columbia Records are finally getting the ball rolling with promotion for Michelle Williams' third studio album Unexpected, which is set for release on October 7th. Michelle appeared on The Early Show recently for a short interview, followed by a performance of her first single "We Break The Dawn." I was very impressed by Michelle's performance, especially because of her vocals. Her new sound is definitely not just the studio magic I was afraid it would be.

Preview Karina's "First Love"

Finally, after a drought that's lasted about two months, some good new music is starting to arrive. Karina is set to release her debut album "First Love" on August 19th & snippets of every track on the album can be heard HERE. So many of her songs sound great that I can't even narrow down what I think will be highlights! Karina is one talent not to be missed!

Britney Spears 2008 MTV VMA Promo Videos

"Pinch Me"

"Name"

Check out these brand new TV spots Britney Spears shot to promote the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards. Also in the clips are this year's host Russell Brand & an elephant. I actually found them quite funny. The show goes down on September 7th.

Another Beyonce "Fashion Rocks" Promo Pic

Here's another promotional photo of Beyonce for her upcoming performance at Fashion Rocks, which is set to air September 9th. This is an awesome shoot of Beyonce. I look forward to what she has to offer at the event.

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Keyshia Cole Covers Mary J. Blige

Keyshia Cole has covered a song by her idol Mary J. Blige. Keyshia was apparently a little hesitant to do so, but was convinced by Lil' Wayne, whom she recorded the tune with. They covered Mary's 1994 song "I Love You," which is taken from her My Life album. It appears to be unknown, however, what release the song was recorded for. Nevertheless, I have faith in Keyshia & I know she will not only do the song justice, but sing it beautifully.

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Mariah Carey "Fashion Rocks" Promo Pic + Note

Check out this gorgeous promotional photo of Mariah Carey shot for Fashion Rocks magazine. Mariah will be performing at the event, which will air September 9th.

Note: Here's an interesting tidbit I picked up from the article above. Mariah is set to "make a feature-length HBO musical adaptation of Merry Christmas, her 1994 holiday album." I had heard the rumors, but I guess it's actually gonna happen! Here's to it happening THIS Christmas! *crosses fingers*

Katharine McPhee "Connected" Video Premiere

Katharine McPhee has shot a video for her song "Connected," which was recorded for use in the new Barbie movie. Kat looks great in the video, which features clips from the cheesy flick. I'm glad we get to hear some decent new music from her, but I'm still waiting for that new album...

Weekend Flashback Performance: Beyonce At The 2004 Grammys

When Beyonce set out to be a solo star, everyone knew she would be successful. However, I'm not sure if we all knew just what was headed our way. Beyonce named her debut solo album Dangerously In Love, a title shared with a Destiny's Child-turned-Beyonce song, which she performed here at the 2004 Grammy Awards. On a set made to look like a life-size portrait, Beyonce shined both visually & vocally as she stunned the audience with her rendition of the ballad. I've always loved how Beyonce uses this song to showcase her talent. The Grammys also noticed Beyonce's talent that year, rewarding her quite nicely with a whopping 5 awards. What a wonderful night it was for the hottest chick in the game.

The Pussycat Dolls "Doll Domination" Cover

Check out the cover for The Pussycat Dolls' sophomore album Doll Domination (September 16th). I love it; the girls look on-point. Anyway, this should be it for today's massive PCD update-age.

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PCD TV Episode 5

In their fifth webisode, The Pussycat Dolls discuss their sisterhood. Aww. Their sophomore album Doll Domination will be out September 16th.

New Pussycat Dolls Promo Pics

Here are two new promotional photos of The Pussycat Dolls for their second album Doll Domination, which is set for release on September 16th. The girls are smokin'! Btw, it's quite a PCD news day, so look out for more to come of the girls.

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