The Pussycat Dolls "Bottle Pop": Behind-The-Scenes

Check out this making-of footage from The Pussycat Dolls' recent video shoot for "Bottle Pop," the next single off their sophomore album Doll Domination. I am digging their looks for the video & I love this song, so I'm glad it got the proper single treatment.

Will.I.Am & Bob Dylan's Pepsi Commercial

Will.I.Am has joined forces with Bob Dylan to record a new song, "Forever Young," that will be featured in the above Pepsi commercial during this year's Super Bowl. Interesting stuff. I wonder if there will be any more stars popping up in commercials during the Super Bowl this Sunday.

Ciara ft. Young Jeezy "Never Ever" Video Premiere + Single Cover + More

"Never Ever," featuring Young Jeezy, is the second single taken from Ciara's forthcoming third album Fantasy Ride. Ciara looks unbelievably amazing in this Chris Robinson-directed clip. Also, look out for a cameo from Monica (for the curious ones, Monica previously made a cameo in Ciara's "That's Right" video). About the song, I was on the fence at first, but I've grown to like it more & more, & this video definitely helped. It should do well on radio if it's picked up. "Never Ever" was featured on an episode of BET's Access Granted this evening, so go HERE to check out all the behind-the-scenes goodness. Finally, here's the "Never Ever" single cover:

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Album Review: Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes "Eye Legacy"

It's already been seven years since we lost crazysexycool TLC member Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes. No one had a style & personality like her, & no one has since. To celebrate her legacy, the new posthumous album Eye Legacy was created. Several guests came together to put together an album that includes both previously released & never-before-heard material from Left Eye. The result is an enjoyable, if not perfect, set that fans of the late Lisa Lopes will no doubt appreciate.

The Free-assisted "Spread Your Wings," which features Left Eye vocals from "Life Is Like A Park" off her debut solo disc Supernova, starts off Eye Legacy. The concept of the song is a good one & Free provides a great hook for the track. Bobby Valentino is featured on "In The Life," formerly "Rags To Riches" off Supernova. This one's alright, with Bobby doing a decent job with the chorus. "Legendary," or "Untouchable," follows & is one of the least changed songs of the bunch. TLC does make an appearance, alongside Missy Elliott, on first single "Let's Just Do It," which includes some really cool production & is a rightful (as well as obvious) choice to lead off the album.

Lil' Mama helps out on a reworked version of "Block Party," which was Supernova's first single back in the day. Nothing against Lil' Mama, as I liked her offering, but I wish they had left this one alone. "Listen," or "Universal Quest," could've done without its somewhat annoying hook. Chamillionaire & Bone Crusher are featured on the banger "Bounce," which is a fun song. The Wanya Morris-assisted "Let It Out" is a deep one that offers some interesting insight into Left Eye's mind. Ryan Toby & Claudette Ortiz help out on "Through The Pain," an excellent heartfelt track that even has Lisa shouting out TLC, "the unstoppable team."

Left Eye is flawless on "Forever," but I can't help but think she would've felt whoever is singing the chorus was being too cliche with it. Lisa's sister Reigndrop Lopes is wonderful on "Never Will Eye Eva." "L.I.S.A.," or "Let Me Live," is almost straight off Supernova. The "Let's Just Do It" remix could've been left off, as it only has a different beat, but I'll take what I can get. Reigndrop helps out on the album's closer "Crank It," a nice way to end Eye Legacy by showing off Left Eye's ability to entertain.

It's great to hear Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes' voice again. Though some songs were better than others, I liked the mix of material. They chose worthy material to include that we've heard before, but enough of it is new to make Eye Legacy worthwhile. A huge thank you to those who came together to make this project a reality.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Keyshia Cole "Vibe" Magazine Cover

For their first-ever style issue, Vibe magazine has chosen to feature Keyshia Cole on the cover. Well, there's no denying that Keyshia looks stunning here. My only complaint is that I feel like I can hardly see her, ya know? Nonetheless, check out Vibe's March issue soon as well as Keyshia's latest album A Different Me.

Rihanna Performs On Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Bash

Disturbia/Breakin' Dishes

Rehab

Shut Up & Drive

Rihanna performed a set at this year's Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Bash of songs from her most recent album Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded. I'm glad she has a little of her hair back for starters. I also have to hand it to her that, by Rihanna standards, these performances were pretty good. However, I'm on the fence about her vocals; I mean, let's face it people: she's no Beyonce. I thought I'd throw in here also... am I the only one that thinks "Breakin' Dishes" should've replaced "Shut Up & Drive" as the second single off GGGB?

Aaliyah Biopic Planned

Warner Bros. will be making a movie based on the life of the late Aaliyah. Bill Condon, the director of "Dreamgirls," is attached to direct the film. Canadian singer Keshia Chante will play Aaliyah in the movie, which will get personal regarding the private life of the late singer. The biopic, which should begin production by the end of March, looks promising, considering some of the names involved are Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Ginuwine, video director Hype Williams, & choreographer Fatima Robinson. Each time I listen to some of Aaliyah's music, it blows my mind as I realize her material seems to actually get even more relevant to the industry as time goes by, which explains why, with only three albums released during her lifetime, Aaliyah sold over 32 million records worldwide.

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Jazmine Sullivan "Lions, Tigers & Bears" Video Premiere

"Lions, Tigers & Bears" is the third single off Jazmine Sullivan's Grammy-nominated debut album Fearless. Her videos just keep getting better & better! I love the look to this one & I hope it's yet another hit for Jazmine.

Billboard Update

While Taylor refuses to 'swift'ly remove her Fearless booty from the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 album chart, slow album sales allowed for Mariah Carey's new compilation The Ballads to enter in as the Hot Shot Debut at #10 with 29,000 copies sold. Kelly Clarkson, however, has a bit more reason to celebrate. Her new single "My Life Would Suck Without You" not only tops the Hot 100 singles chart this week, but it jumped 97-1, breaking the record for largest leap to #1 set by Britney Spears not too long ago. First week digital sales of 280,000 copies allowed for this feat, which makes Kelly the first person from American Idol to achieve a Hot 100 #1 unrelated to the show. A big congrats goes out to Kelly!

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The-Dream "Love Vs. Money" Tracklisting

Despite my swiftly declining interest in him, The-Dream seems to be making some moves toward the release of his sophomore album Love Vs. Money (March 3rd). You can view the tracklisting for the project below:

1. Rockin' That Thang
2. Walkin' On The Moon (ft. Kanye West)
3. My Love (ft. Mariah Carey)
4. Put It Down
5. Sweat It Out
6. Take U Home 2 My Mama
7. Love Vs. Money
8. Love Vs. Money: Part 2
9. Fancy
10. Right Side Of My Brain
11. Mr. Yeah
12. Kelly's 12 Play
13. Let Me See The Booty (ft. Lil' Jon)
14. Touch & Feel
15. Nothing But Love

Even though I like his Mariah collabo, when I heard it was supposedly his second single, I had to search to discover that "Rockin' That Thang" has already been released as the first. I say it in this way because the song is so uninspiring & forgettable that I hadn't given it an ounce of thought since it leaked (whenever that was). Album track "Let Me See The Booty" isn't much better. Personally, I think The-Dream should just stick to his hit-&-miss producing career if he's gonna release material this mediocre.

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Lily Allen Performs On Absolute Radio + More

Lily Allen performed the following three new songs recently on Absolute Radio: "22," "The Fear," & "He Wasn't There." All of these tracks can be found on Lily's forthcoming sophomore album It's Not Me, It's You (February 10th), which can now be pre-ordered HERE, where you can also listen to snippets of every song on the album (including the acoustic iTunes bonus tracks!) Does it baffle anyone else how she sings with her accent? I love it, but still.

Kelly Clarkson "My Life Would Suck Without You" Video Premiere

"My Life Would Suck Without You" is the first single off Kelly Clarkson's upcoming fourth album All I Ever Wanted (March 10th). I love what they did with this & Kelly looks amazing! It's great to have her back ... not to mention the song is the #1 single in the country (see: tomorrow's Billboard Update).

Jazmine Sullivan "Lions, Tigers & Bears" Video Preview

Here's a sneak peek at the video for Jazmine Sullivan's third single "Lions, Tigers & Bears" off her debut album Fearless. Not only is this an excellent single choice for the Grammy nominee, but the video looks to be very impressive! Keep an eye out for the video to premiere in its entirety tomorrow.

Kelly Rowland Leaves Music World

In a move that was a long time coming, Kelly Rowland has parted ways with Beyonce's father Mathew Knowles as her manager & his company, Music World. The amicable split comes on the heels of the mismanagement of Kelly's sophomore album Ms. Kelly, which, to my surprise, has been certified gold. This is definitely a step in the right direction for her as a solo artist, as it will finally give her a chance to prove she can stand on her own two feet.

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Solange Performs On Pepsi Smash

Viva La Vida

T.O.N.Y.

Solange put her own spin on Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" for Yahoo! Music's Pepsi Smash recently. She also performed the third single "T.O.N.Y." taken from her latest album SoL-AngeL & The Hadley St. Dreams. I love her cover of "Viva La Vida!" Better than the original for sure. Her performance of "T.O.N.Y." is absolutely incredible. Chick is doin' her thing!

Katharine McPhee Signs New Record Deal

Fans, like myself, of Katharine McPhee who have been awaiting her sophomore album for a while now need not wait much longer. The former American Idol runner-up has signed a new record deal with Verve. Katharine is set to release her label debut later this year. What wonderful news! I'm excited to finally be able to comfortably look forward to new material from Katharine.

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Michelle Branch "This Way" Video Preview

Check out this clip of Michelle Branch's video for "This Way," which will serve as her first single as a solo artist in quite some time. It appears to be off her upcoming third album Everything Comes & Goes. While the video itself seems pretty boring, I'm anticipating what Michelle will bring to the table after gathering some country influence, as I liked her first pair of solo projects.

New Stuff Tuesday

^Click To Purchase^

Today rings in the first cool new releases of 2009. First up is Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes' posthumous solo album Eye Legacy, which is an enjoyable set that brings back fond memories. I plan on reviewing the album, which includes the TLC & Missy Elliott-assisted lead single "Let's Just Do It" & a bonus DVD featuring some never-before-seen footage, soon. Also out today is the hilarious "Open Season 2." Feel free to check out both releases by clicking their respective covers above.

Jennifer Lopez "Marie Claire Spain" Magazine Cover + More

Jennifer Lopez shows us why she's "the world's sexiest mom" on the latest cover of Spain's version of Marie Claire magazine. Long time no see, J.Lo! Scans of Jennifer's feature in this issue can be seen HERE.

Michael Jackson To Develop "Thriller The Musical"

Reportedly, Michael Jackson will help develop a musical based on his classic 1983 "Thriller" music video. The theater production is set to feature music from Michael's Thriller album as well as its predecessor Off The Wall. I'll believe it when I see it, but I would in fact be very interested in seeing "Thriller The Musical."

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Jennifer Hudson, Others To Perform At Grammys

Multiple Grammy nominee Jennifer Hudson is set to light up the stage at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards when the show airs on February 8th. Also performing will be the foursome of Kanye West, Jay-Z, T.I., & Lil' Wayne, who will perform their collaboration "Swagga Like Us." As disappointing as awards season typically is for entertainment that is actually good, I'm holding out for some minor victories come Grammy night.

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Jordin Sparks Performs At Commander-In-Chief Ball

One Step At A Time/No Air

Faith

Video of Jordin Sparks performing at the "Commander-In-Chief Ball" for President Obama has just now surfaced. She performed the hits "One Step At A Time" & "No Air," which can be found on her self-titled debut album, in addition to a brand new song called "Faith." Jordin sounded good on "One Step At A Time," but she has a crazy vibe with "No Air" that I love. I'm also liking "Faith," which although Jordin is said to be working on her sophomore album, there is no word on whether or not the song will make the cut.

An Evening Of Stars: Tribute To Patti LaBelle Performance Highlights + More

Jennifer Hudson "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"

Fantasia "Lady Marmalade"

Fantasia "Somebody Loves You Baby"

Mario "If You Asked Me To"

As was teased to us all the way back in September, Jennifer Hudson & Fantasia, as well as Mario, performed at An Evening Of Stars: Tribute To Patti LaBelle, which was finally televised recently. First off, I feel the need to congratulate all of these fine vocalists for wonderful performances. Now, Jennifer Hudson was absolutely flawless. It's been too long, unfortunately, since we last heard her voice. Her rendition of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" was mindblowing. Fantasia brought down the house with "Lady Marmalade" & showcased her vocal chops once again with "Somebody Loves You Baby." As for Mario, his version of "If You Asked Me To" was phenomenal also. For those hungry for more, backstage interviews from the show can be found HERE.

Keri Hilson's Zune Commercial

Keri Hilson has shot a new commercial for the Zune music player, which has the singer-songwriter describing her playlist. So, I've spotted Keri's latest single "Turnin' Me On" charting on the Billboard Hot 100 & iTunes recently. Not to mention, according to Keyshia Cole's new video, Keri's long-awaited debut album In A Perfect World... is now due in March. Fingers crossed!

Christina Aguilera "Falling In Love Again" Song Premiere

This new Christina Aguilera song, "Falling In Love Again," is featured during the credits of the recently released movie "The Spirit," which flopped pretty badly & is therefore not likely to still be playing in a city near you. LQ recordings of the track taken in movie theaters have been making the rounds, but the 8-minute HQ version of the song has finally leaked, so I thought I'd share it with you. With that said, & as much as I hate to say the following, I'm not too fond of the track. Christina, this is not what we want to hear from you. What good is that big voice if you aren't going to sing more than two notes in a song?

Listen To Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes' "Eye Legacy"

An album premiere is currently being hosted HERE for Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes' new album Eye Legacy, which is set to be released on January 27th. I haven't listened to the entire album yet, but for those of you who have heard Lisa's Supernova album, prepare for some serious deja vu.

Leona Lewis "I Will Be" Video Premiere

"I Will Be" is Leona Lewis' new US single off her debut album Spirit. After initially being skeptical about this single choice, my mind was changed with this video, which features Gossip Girl actor Chace Crawford. Leona did an excellent job. Hopefully she finds continued success with "I Will Be" as well as the forthcoming release of Spirit: The Deluxe Edition (February 3rd).

Pink "Please Don't Leave Me" Video Premiere

"Please Don't Leave Me" is, I'm assuming, the third single off Pink's fifth album Funhouse. This video is something else, but I love it. Pink is one person who still knows how to make videos!

Brandy "Long Distance (Pop Radio Edit)" Song Premiere

Epic Records is apparently planning on releasing Brandy's second single "Long Distance" (off her latest album Human) to pop radio soon with this new pop version of the song. I like the new version & I agree with their decision because I think "Long Distance" deserves more of a push to gain some success. At the same time, I hope they release "Piano Man" soon cause that song has the potential to kill!

Kat DeLuna ft. Lil' Wayne "Unstoppable" Video Premiere

"Unstoppable," featuring Lil' Wayne, is the first single off Kat DeLuna's upcoming sophomore album Inside Out. Up to this point, I can't really say I could call myself a Kat DeLuna fan. With this new sound however, even if she is selling out a bit, I'm more interested in her. Still, I must say that even though I'm not particularly a hip-hop fan, I almost liked Lil' Wayne's verse better than Kat's parts. I did like the different looks in the video though.

Beyonce "Obsessed" Poster

The movie poster for "Obsessed," starring Beyonce, has surfaced. I love it, especially because our girl is front & center! "Obsessed" hits theaters April 24th.

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Watch The Pussycat Dolls' Doll Domination Tour!

Watch The Pussycat Dolls' Doll Domination Tour HERE

Here is the intro video for The Pussycat Dolls' Doll Domination tour, which you can watch in its entirety in HQ by clicking the link above. I haven't checked out the show yet, which should be hot, but this is a really exciting opportunity. The Pussycat Dolls' latest album Doll Domination is out now.

The Caffeine Patch: 2009 Academy Award Nominees Announced

"WALL-E" received six nominations for the 2009 Academy Awards, which ties "Beauty & The Beast'"s record for most nominations for an animated film. Joining "WALL-E" in the Best Animated Feature category are "Kung Fu Panda" & "Bolt." Disney/Pixar's "Presto" was also nominated in the Best Animated Short Film category. For a full list of nominees, click HERE. Not too shabby, I must say. The Oscars air February 22nd @ 8/7c on ABC.

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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.

Same as last week... #1 album: Taylor Swift Fearless & #1 single: Lady GaGa "Just Dance." Won't SOMEBODY just release an album already?! The silver lining here has to be The Pussycat Dolls' new single "I Hate This Part" reaching a new peak of #11 on the Hot 100, which is due to PCD earning this week's Sales Gainer status.

The Caffeine Patch: New Up Poster

Check out this new poster for Disney/Pixar's 'up'-coming movie "Up," which features characters from the film. I'll definitely have to see this one. "Up" opens in Disney Digital 3D on May 29th.

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Kanye West On Youth Ball

Medley

Interview

Kanye West performed a medley that included "Touch The Sky," "American Boy," "Stronger," "Good Life," & ended with "Heartless" at the "Youth Ball" for President Obama. During West's interview afterwards, he gave a few interesting comments regarding former President Bush. Everybody be sure to check out Kanye's latest album 808s & Heartbreak, which is in stores now.

Keyshia Cole "You Complete Me" Video Premiere

"You Complete Me" is the second single off Keyshia Cole's third album A Different Me. The song isn't my favorite, but is a decent single choice nonetheless. I like the video pretty well, as Keyshia looks stunning. I'm just happy we're past "Playa Cardz Right."

Jazmine Sullivan Performs On Yes We Will: BET's Inauguration Celebration

Jazmine Sullivan performed a mini-medley of her new single "Lions, Tigers & Bears" & the inspirational song "Dream Big," both of which can be found of her debut album Fearless, on "Yes We Will: BET's Inauguration Celebration" last night. It was great to see Jazmine sing these tracks & she did an excellent job.

2009 BRIT Award Nominees Announced

Estelle nabbed herself two nominations at the 2009 BRIT Awards. Joining her as nominees are fellow Brit Leona Lewis as well as international stars Beyonce, Pink, & Kanye West. See all the nominees HERE. These are like the British Grammys. Although most of their nominees didn't make sense to me, at least they got a few right.

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Neighborhood Ball Performance Highlights + More

Beyonce "At Last"

Mariah Carey "Hero"

Mary J. Blige "Just Fine"

Alicia Keys "No One"

Various Artists "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"

The stars continued to show President Obama support last night at the "Neighborhood Ball" inauguration celebration. Beyonce had the priviledge of singing for Barack & Michelle Obama's first dance as President & First Lady, about which she got quite emotional (see: below). The likes of Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, & Alicia Keys pulled out their happy & inspirational material to perform at the event. All of the above & more came together for a special performance of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" as well. Put simply, it was a very special night for them & for America. Check out Beyonce's interview after performing for the Obama's below:

"America's Song" Video Premiere + Oprah Performance

will.i.am worked with David Foster to bring together Mary J. Blige, Faith Hill, Seal, & Bono for "America's Song," which is, of course, perfectly timed with the inauguration of Barack Obama. The video for the song is above & features the obvious: studio footage & images of Obama. The group also joined forces to perform "America's Song" on Oprah yesterday, which can be viewed below:

John Legend "Everybody Knows" Video Premiere

"Everybody Knows" is the second single taken from John Legend's third album Evolver. I can't blame them for playing it safe with this one, but John definitely has better material on his latest album to choose from (that's right, "Quickly," I'm talking to you!)

Jordin Sparks Performs National Anthem On NFC Championship

Jordin Sparks performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" just like she did at last year's Super Bowl for the NFC Championship. Jordin has so much talent & I hope she is able to become more than just a ringtone artist because she deserves it.

We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration Performance Highlights

Beyonce "America The Beautiful"

Mary J. Blige "Lean On Me"

Usher, Shakira, & Stevie Wonder "Higher Ground"

The stars lined up to perform for the president-elect at "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration" earlier today. Beyonce performed a gorgeous rendition of "America The Beautiful," while Mary J. Blige offered up her own soulful version of "Lean On Me." Usher joined Stevie Wonder & Shakira to perform "Higher Ground."

Download Kelly Clarkson's "MLWSWY" For FREE!

VH1 is offering a free download of Kelly Clarkson's new single "My Life Would Suck Without You," the first off her upcoming album All I Ever Wanted, HERE. Pretty sweet deal!

Bring Da Beat Back's 1st Anniversary!

Today marks the one year anniversary of Bring Da Beat Back! It's been an incredible year & I look forward to an even better future. Thanks to all the readers for your continued support!

The Pussycat Dolls Perform On The 2009 NRJ Music Awards

I Hate This Part

When I Grow Up

The Pussycat Dolls performed the first two hit singles "I Hate This Part" & "When I Grow Up" off their sophomore album Doll Domination at the 2009 NRJ Music Awards in France. Sure it's nothing we haven't seen before, but at least the set is more colorful than usual! While I'm excited about the current success of "I Hate This Part" in the US, I can't help but hope that this puts us one step closer toward having that Nicole solo album because I really have faith that she could have something to offer as a solo artist.

Karina In The Studio

Fresh off her Grammy-nominated debut album First Love, Karina is currently back in the studio working on her sophomore album. Footage featuring new Karina music has surfaced, which has her & the producers showing quite a bit of excitement regarding her new material. I must say, they aren't too far off either because Karina's new stuff is sounding incredible. She definitely deserves to be recognized by a wider public with her sophomore effort.

Ryan Leslie "How It Was Supposed To Be" Video Premiere (2 of 3)

"How It Was Supposed To Be" is the third single taken from Ryan Leslie's forthcoming self-titled debut album (February 10th). Finally, Ryan offers up a great video! I really like this one, especially the beginning. You guys really oughta check this out. Ryan Leslie is a talent that shouldn't be slept on.

Keri Hilson Performs "Turnin' Me On" On KTLA

Keri Hilson performed her third single "Turnin' Me On" following a short interview back in December on KTLA. I was just saying that Keri needs to perform somewhere to get her face out there, so this is an encouraging start. Here's hoping her debut album In A Perfect World... comes out relatively soon.

Preview Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes' "Eye Legacy"

You can now listen to a snippet of every track on Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes' posthumous' album Eye Legacy HERE. This set should be interesting to say the least. Eye Legacy drops on January 27th.

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.

Same as last week... #1 album: Taylor Swift Fearless & #1 single: Lady GaGa "Just Dance." I think I'm gonna be sick.

Jennifer Hudson To Return At Super Bowl

Jennifer Hudson will make her long-awaited return, which follows the understandably lengthy break she took following her tragedy, in a big way by performing the national anthem at this year's Super Bowl on February 1st. We all sure know she can do it by now, as if we ever had a doubt. Jennifer, we all love you & know you'll do great! By the way, make sure you pick up a copy of Jennifer Hudson's self-titled debut CD if you haven't yet.

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The Pussycat Dolls ft. Snoop Dogg "Bottle Pop" Video Preview

Here's a (short) first look at The Pussycat Dolls' new video for "Bottle Pop," which features Snoop Dogg & is taken from their latest album Doll Domination. They just keep crankin' out the videos, don't they? Well, I love it! Their sophomore effort has many single choices & this one's no exception. It looks like another hot one & I look forward to seeing the whole thing.

Mariah, Others To Perform In (Another) Inaugural Concert

Artists such as Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, & Alicia Keys are set to perform at the "Neighborhood Ball" concert, which is another event in celebration of the upcoming inauguration. Also a free concert, this one will be televised on ABC @ 8/7c on Inauguration Day. So I guess this is like a big deal?! (I'm just kidding!)

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Fergie "Us Weekly" Magazine Cover

Fergie & hew new hubby Josh Duhamel allowed Us Weekly magazine inside their wedding to put together an album that is featured on the cover of their latest issue. I'm sure, as it appears, that Fergie had the fairytale day she always dreamed about, so congrats again to the happy couple.

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Kelis Is Pregnant

Kelis is expecting her first child. The father, Kelis' husband Nas, will also welcome the couple's first child together. I'm definitely happy for the both of them. Of course, I'm assuming this will put a hold on any music she may have been working on. We may have to wait a little longer, but if Kelis releases anything as good as her last effort Kelis Was Here, we'll be in for a treat.

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Beyonce "Diva (Director's Cut)" Video Premiere

Check out the director's cut of Beyonce's "Diva" video, which features a few new looks & different editing. Considering how much more dancing is featured in the final version, it appears that this version was scrapped following the success of "Single Ladies." I do feel however that this version has more of its own identity, which I love.

Christina Milian "Us Against The World" Video Premiere

"Us Against The World" is the first single taken from Christina Milian's forthcoming album Dream In Color, due this spring via MySpace Records. This Ray Kay-directed clip has been anticipated for quite some time now & it was worth it. The epic quality of the video fits the song like a glove & Christina's elegance is the cherry on top. Great stuff.

Beyonce, Others To Perform In Inaugural Concert

Several of today's best & brightest are set to take the stage for "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration," a concert to kick off the presidential inaugural festivities on January 18th at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. The free, open-to-the-public show, which will feature the likes of Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, & Usher, among others, will be broadcast on HBO. Should be cool.

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Teairra Mari ft. Pleasure P "Hunt 4 You" Video Premiere

"Hunt 4 You," featuring former Pretty Ricky member Pleasure P, is the first single off Teairra Mari's upcoming sophomore album. I was into her somewhat when she first came out a few years ago, but I had more or less lost interest until she premiered this new video. The clip definitely works as a beauty video & I'm digging the song. Teairra has a better voice than I remember. I'll be checking for her new material.

Fergie Marries Josh Duhamel

Fergie & her longtime boyfriend, actor Josh Duhamel, tied the knot on Saturday in Malibu. Many celebrities were in attendance including, of course, Fergie's fellow members of The Black-Eyed Peas. This would definitely explain why Fergie was looking so wonderfully slender recently. My congratulations to the happy couple!

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Christina Milian "Us Against The World" Video Preview

Check out this sneak peek of Christina Milian's video for "Us Against The World," the first single off her upcoming album Dream In Color. I like the epic feel of it thus far, which fits the song well. However, I hope it's not as boring as this clip leads me to believe it might be.

Busta Rhymes "Back On My B.S." Cover

What do you do when you can't decide what picture to use for your album cover? Busta Rhymes has the answer with the cover art for his upcoming album Back On My B.S. (March 10th). Can't say I hate it. I'm still on the fence about whether he's bringing it or not material-wise, but I can't wait to hear his new single with Estelle.

Ryan Leslie "Ryan Leslie" Revised Cover

Check out the revised cover art for Ryan Leslie's self-titled debut album (February 10th). This one's fine I guess ... it really doesn't make much difference to me. I do hope they stick with this release date though because I'm anxious to hear his new material.

Leona Lewis "Spirit: The Deluxe Edition (US Version)" Details

On February 3rd, the US will catch up to the UK once again when it comes to Leona Lewis. Here, we will get our very own version of Leona's Spirit: The Deluxe Edition. In addition to the original US tracklisting, "Run" will be added to the CD as expected, along with the Novel-assisted "Myself," "Forgiveness," & "Bleeding Love (Jason Nevins Rockin' Radio Remix)." The DVD will feature similar content to the UK release such as her music videos for "Forgive Me," "Footprints In The Sand," "Better In Time," & both versions of "Bleeding Love." However, in place of the making-of feature & "A Moment Like This" video, the US disc will include the music video for "Run" as well as a live version of Leona's next US single "I Will Be." I've tried to clear up any confusion, but if these details are too confusing, click HERE to view the set's tracklisting. I can't help but be excited that it seems the US is getting the better deal once again, but I'm sure the video for "I Will Be," well, will be available come February, so it's a shame they can't include it here. I still look forward to this release though.

Jazmine Sullivan Performs "Bust Your Windows" On The Late Late Show

Jazmine Sullivan stopped by The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson to perform the second single "Bust Your Windows" off her debut album Fearless. She did a great job. I still love listening to her live.

T-Boz & Brian McKnight Join Celebrity Apprentice

R&B stars T-Boz & Brian McKnight have signed on to be a part of the new season of Celebrity Apprentice. The pair will endure the wrath of Donald Trump when the show premieres March 1st. These silly reality shows sure get on my nerves, but at least we will have the opportunity to see T-Boz again after so long. Girl, just release a solo album already & all your financial troubles will be behind you!

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Kelly Clarkson "All I Ever Wanted" Cover + "MLWSWY" Single Cover

Check out the cover for Kelly Clarkson's fourth album All I Ever Wanted, which is set for release on March 17th, above. Is it just me or are we seeing a few too many pictures & hearing not quite enough music?! Anyway, I think Kelly looks great on it, but I'm not sold on the cover as a whole. They just seem to be trying too hard with all the colors. Nonetheless, Ms. Clarkson is picking a great time to release new material, as she'll have the market all to herself ... if her single will leak already! Speaking of pictures, here's the single cover for Kelly's "My Life Would Suck Without You" for those who may have missed it:

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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.

Taylor Swift's Fearless remains on top of the Billboard 200 album chart for yet another depressing week. Over on the Hot 100 singles chart, Lady GaGa has reached #1 with her hit "Just Dance." It took that annoying song long enough.

(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

In Theaters Now...

Grade: A+

Well, I finally got to see this one & WOW! Considering what I've heard, "Cadillac Records" is very underrated & it's such a shame this film didn't reach a larger audience. While the entire cast, especially Mos Def, was impressive, Beyonce absolutely blew me away. She stole scenes from an Oscar winner (Adrien Brody) &, despite the Golden Globes, definitely deserves an Oscar nomination herself ... yes, in the acting category.

Syesha Mercado On Ikea Thanksgiving Day Parade

"One Rock & Roll Too Many"

Interview

I'm fully aware how late I am with this, but in these slow times, there's no reason not to get creative--plus, there's no reason not to catch up with Syesha! The third place finalist in the most recent season of American Idol performed "One Rock & Roll Too Many," which she sang on the show, at the Ikea Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia this past November. Of course it was lipsynched because that's how these parades work, but her vocals sound just like they do live. Incredible, right? Syesha also did a little interview during the pre-show. Note: Look for her about six minutes into the bottom video.

The Pussycat Dolls Perform "I Hate This Part" On Leno

The Pussycat Dolls performed the latest single "I Hate This Part" taken from their sophomore album Doll Domination again last night on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. PCD's nonstop promotion seems to be paying off however because "I Hate This Part" currently sits at #11 on iTunes. I'm happy to see the Dolls getting a little bit of the recognition they deserve this time around.

2009 NAACP Image Award Nominees Announced

Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, & Alicia Keys are going head-to-head at this year's NAACP Image Awards. The threesome are nominated in the Outstanding Female Artist, Outstanding Song, & Outstanding Music Video music categories as well as the Outstanding Supporting Actress movie category. Additional nominees include Mariah Carey, Estelle, Jordin Sparks, & Jazmine Sullivan. View all the nominees HERE. The show will air Thursday, February 12th @ 8/7c on FOX.

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Will.I.Am "She's A Star" Video Premiere

"She's A Star" is the fourth single off will.i.am's solo album Songs About Girls. Do I even need to ask why? Just concentrate on bringing the Peas back already! About the video though, I'll give him creativity props even though the clip is pretty boring. The song is definitely not single material anyway.

New Beyonce "L'Oreal" Ad

Beyonce once again stars in the new ad campaign for L'Oreal. As if she ever didn't, Beyonce looks amazing. Be sure to pick up your copy of her new album I Am... Sasha Fierce if you haven't already.

Busta Rhymes "Back On My B.S." Update

A few names of collaborators that will be featured on Busta Rhymes' forthcoming album Back On My B.S. (March 10th) have been revealed. Along with production from Pharrell Williams comes features from Akon, Common, Lil' Wayne, Kardinal Offishall, & T.I. Such a prestigious list of guests begs the question: who wouldn't wanna be on a Busta record? Speaking of which, it was recently revealed that his next single "World Go Round" will feature Estelle. Now that's definitely a collaboration I'm looking forward to.

[Source, Source, Source]

Pink "Seventeen" Magazine Cover

Pink is featured on the cover of the latest issue of Seventeen magazine. I don't know if this was a bit unexpected by anyone else, but I love it! It's great to see Pink get some mainstream recognition this time around. Speaking of which, her new album Funhouse is out now.

Leona Lewis To Write Autobiography

Leona Lewis has signed a deal with publishing house Hodder & Stoughton to pen her autobiography. The book is set to feature more than 100 new photos & will be released in October. The release will coincide with that of Leona's second album, which is planned to come out shortly after. From X Factor to worldwide stardom, Leona's last couple of years from her perspective would definitely make for an interesting read. I look forward to a great 2009 from this songstress.

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Estelle "Stella" Magazine Cover

Check out Estelle covering a recent issue of Stella magazine. This chick has, for lack of a better word, swagger like no other. Her latest album Shine is available now.

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Mariah Carey "Hero 2009" Video Premiere

Mariah Carey has rerecorded her classic "Hero" for the upcoming release The Ballads, a compilation of some of her biggest hits via her old Sony Music label that will come out on January 20th. For those who have insisted that Mariah has lost her former voice for good, this one's for you. How refreshing it is to hear 'the voice' again. Mariah looks beautiful in the clip as well. Note: Information on the release The Ballads is available in the archives of the blog.