Estelle Collaborates With Rappers

This coming Tuesday, the new albums from Gym Class Heroes & Kardinal Offishall are released. Aside from their release date, the two albums have something else in common: both feature Estelle. For their new album The Quilt, Gym Class Heroes called on Estelle to join them on the song "Guilty As Charged." Estelle adds her unique style to the track, which I like & can be heard HERE. Kardinal Offishall will be releasing his latest effort Not 4 Sale on Tuesday, which is set to feature a track with Estelle called "Due Me A Favor." The song is alright & can be heard HERE. I think it's really cool to see Estelle being called upon for features, as artists are noticing her talent & wanting to help her out (though, imo, she's helping them out more!) As she has become the latest record-selling experiment (remove her music from iTunes & lower her CD prices to encourage people to buy her album--which is very good btw), I hope it all turns out alright for her.

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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.

The #1 album may unfortunately be Slipknot's All Hope Is Gone, but Solange did quite well for herself (considering how marketable her new CD ... isn't), debuting at a respectable #9 with 46,000 copies sold of her sophomore album SoL-AngeL & The Hadley St. Dreams. The #1 single may also unfortunately be T.I.'s "Whatever You Like," but Pink jumps 9-3 with her new single "So What" this week (considering it's been #1 on iTunes for a bit now)! Not too shabby.

"Crush" Watch
TW: #31 - LW: #15 - Peak: #2 - Week: #3

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Monica Performs "Still Standing" On V103 Soul Session

Monica, joined by Ludacris, performed her new single "Still Standing" Tuesday at the V103 Soul Session in Atlanta. I'm glad we're already able to see Monica do this song live & she did a great job of it. Her fifth studio album of the same name will be released early next year.

Ciara "Vibe" Magazine Cover + "Go Girl" Single Cover

Ciara is showing off everything but her shy side on the cover of Vibe's latest issue. I'm very excited that promotion has started for her third studio album Fantasy Ride, which is due in December. While I'm loving the magazine cover, check out the HQ cover for Ciara's first single "Go Girl," which features T-Pain, below (Now that's the hotness!):

I gotta say: after hearing "Go Girl," it may not be as groundbreaking as I would've liked (see: "High Price"), but I think it is, at the very least, a better choice for lead single; as if radio would actually take a chance & play something different (or decent!) for a change...

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Christina Aguilera To Release Hits Album

As we near 10 years of Christina Aguilera music, her first greatest hits collection, entitled Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade Of Hits, will be released exclusively at Target on November 11th. The set will include two new songs: "Dynamite" & "Keeps Gettin' Better," which will be sent to radio on September 22nd. Also, Christina is set to re-record two of her biggest hits for the album: "Genie In A Bottle" & "Beautiful." Alright, so it's not the new studio album we were hoping for, but it's still new music! I also must say that, although with Christina you can't get much better, I've always loved the idea of an artist re-recording some of their most popular material, so it will be interesting, to say the least, to hear what Christina will have to offer with regards to that. Maybe now her people can finally confirm some of those rumored performances?!

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*UPDATED* Jennifer Lopez "Elle" Magazine Cover

New mommy Jennifer Lopez graces the October issue of Elle magazine. Jenny Lo is looking as *fierce* as ever (though I'm not too sure about the lips...). Ya know, I really think Jennifer has become underrated & been taken very much for granted as of late. The other day, I re-watched "Monster-In-Law" & it really made me miss the days when she was always present on the silver screen. Come back, Jennifer, & show 'em what they've been missin'!

UPDATE: Check out the awesome photoshoot, which features photos of Jennifer with some of her favorite designers like Donatella Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, & Georgina Chapman, from the issue below (Props to Toya's World for these)--

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Britney Spears To Open 2008 MTV VMAs

Check out the fourth & latest Britney Spears/Russell Brand promo for the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards above. Turns out, the rumors of Britney performing at this year's VMAs may have turned out to be false, but that doesn't mean the show will be without Ms. Spears at all. Britney will open the VMAs in a fashion that, apparently, is "not to be missed!" Here's what Britney has to say about the kick-off:

“MTV has long played an important role in my career. How can I not be there to kick off their 25th VMAs? I'm excited to open the entire show, to say hi to my fans & to be nominated.”

I'm really glad Britney will at least be there, considering her fans did work hard enough to get her three nominations: Best Female Video, Best Pop Video, & Video Of The Year, all for "Piece Of Me." I think it's also for the best that she not perform until it is the proper time to launch her new project. Good luck on winning your first moonman, Brit! The 2008 MTV Video Music Awards go down this Sunday.

The Pussycat Dolls On Wal-Mart Soundcheck

"When I Grow Up"

"I Hate This Part Right Here"

"Take Over The World"

"Buttons"

"Don't Cha"

Interview

The Pussycat Dolls took over Wal-Mart's Soundcheck recently to promote their upcoming album Doll Domination (September 23rd). In addition to current single "When I Grow Up," the Dolls performed two new songs taken from their forthcoming sophomore album: "I Hate This Part Right Here" & "Take Over The World." Personally, I really like them--especially the former. PCD also performed their previous hit singles "Buttons" & "Don't Cha," & gave an interview as well. The girls were very entertaining & practically gave a mini-concert, which was really cool of them. I hope Doll Domination is everything I want it to be.

Click below to watch in HD!

Brandy "Right Here (Departed)" Video Premiere

"Right Here (Departed)" is the first single off Brandy's upcoming fifth studio album Human, due out November 11th. Ladies & gentlemen, this is the moment we've been waiting for! I am sooo excited to bring you the brand new music video from B-Rocka. She looks gorgeous in the Lil' X-directed clip & it is a nice one for the song. Keep an eye out for cameos from the "Right Here (Departed)" producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins & Brandy's brother Ray J. She is coming HARD with Human & I'm beyond psyched!! Btw, look for Brandy to be featured tonight on BET's Access Granted for this very video, as well as stop by 106 & Park tomorrow to premiere the clip!

Leona Lewis Performs "Better In Time" On Regis & Kelly

Deja vu, anyone?

*UPDATED* Beyonce "Marie Claire UK" Magazine Cover

Beyonce has begun what will surely be a massive promotional campaign for her upcoming third solo album by gracing the cover of the UK version of Marie Claire magazine's October issue. Personally, I'm totally feeling Bee on this one. No one can photograph like Beyonce can. Look for Beyonce on the "Just Stand Up" special this Friday & Fashion Rocks the following Tuesday.

UPDATE: Toya's World has provided the stunning photoshoot from this issue, which can be viewed below--

Also, today (September 4th) is Beyonce's birthday, so best wishes on your 'B'Day,' Bee! (You know I HAD to do it...)

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Leona Lewis Performs "Better In Time" On GMA (Again)

Leona Lewis recently made an appearance on Good Morning America to discuss, among other things, her performance at the Olympic Closing Ceremony & actually perform her current single "Better In Time" ... for the second time on the show. Granted, the song is just now (slowly) rising on the US charts, but if "Forgive Me" or "Misses Glass" would have been released a month or two ago, either of them would have shot to #1. And I'm sorry (well, not really) that Leona has a multitude of countries/regions/audiences/whatever you wish to call them to promote to, but this singing the SAME one or two songs bit has GOT to stop. Like I just said, there are more songs on Spirit & ones that would be much more marketable in, say, the US--not to mention, the aforementioned tracks were recorded exclusively FOR the US. As I've said time & time again, Leona has sooo much potential to be an incredible artist, but I suppose we have to settle for incredible vocalist with mediocre, boring material.

Toni Braxton "Dancing With The Stars" Promo Pic

Check out Toni Braxton's promotional photo for her upcoming stint on Dancing With The Stars. I wish Toni good luck. Dancing With The Stars returns for its 7th season on Monday, September 22nd, on ABC at 8/7c.

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iTunes Single Of The Week: Jazmine Sullivan "Need U Bad"

The Single Of The Week, which offers a free download of the featured song, on iTunes this week is none other than Jazmine Sullivan's "Need U Bad." So, for anyone who has yet to either discover this amazing artist or get your own copy of her debut single, this is your chance! Simply click HERE. Jazmine's debut album Fearless will be out on September 23rd. Now, as "Need U Bad" has already hit #1 on the R&B charts, I can't say I completely understand why they might need the promotion for this song. However, if her record label seems to think that this will increase her album sales (&, obviously, exposure), then I'm all for it! (Note: I apologize for the somewhat lack of posting. The pickings are slim ... very slim.)

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Download/Request Day: David Archuleta "Crush"

Today--Tuesday, September 2nd--is the official download & request day for David Archuleta's "Crush" because today is the day "Crush" is officially released to radio, so go support Archey!

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