VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul Performance Highlights

Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, & Mary J. Blige - Medley



Jennifer Hudson & Jessie J "Knock On Wood"



Kelly Clarkson & Ledisi "Chain Of Fools"



Mary J. Blige & Chaka Khan "Ain't Nobody"



Jennifer Hudson "Night Of Your Life"



Estelle & Travie McCoy "Wake Up Everybody"



Kelly Clarkson "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)"



Estelle, Erykah Badu, Marsha Ambrosius, & ?uestlove "Back To Life"



Mary J. Blige "Mr. Wrong"
Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, & Estelle were on hand at VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul to, well, do just that. The show was pretty good, especially the opening number with Jennifer Hudson performing "Spotlight", Mary J. Blige singing "Real Love", Kelly Clarkson belting "Since U Been Gone", & all three of them kicking things off with The Supremes' "You Keep Me Hangin' On". Other highlights for me included J-Hud performing her David Guetta collaboration for the first time, Jennifer & Jessie J singing together, & the clever pairing of MJB & Chaka Khan. The fact that they brought out guys & VH1's insistence on pimping that Sharon Jones character irked me though.

Estelle & Gym Class Heroes Perform "Stereo Hearts" On Leno

Estelle filled in for Adam Levine during Gym Class Heroes' performance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, making their hit single "Stereo Hearts" bearable.

Black Girls Rock Performance Highlights

Estelle "Thank You"



Melanie Fiona "This Time"



Mary J. Blige "My Life"
This year's Black Girls Rock special on BET resulted in Estelle's fantastic first performance of her new single, Melanie Fiona debuting a song from her upcoming album that... I'm gonna need to hear the studio version... & Mary J. Blige travelling back in time rather than continuing the journey.

Estelle "Back To Love" Video Premiere

"Back To Love" is the new international single off Estelle's forthcoming album All Of Me. We finally get to hear the studio version of this... though it's not quite the way I thought it would be. As for the video, forgive me, but... is she moving her old boyfriend's stuff out of her place with her new boyfriend or..? lol

The 2011 BET Hip-Hop Awards Recap

I know I'm a little late with this, but (I just found out that) Estelle participated in one of the cyphers at the 2011 BET Hip-Hop Awards while Nicki Minaj picked up the awards for MVP Of The Year & Made-You-Look Award.

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Estelle "AOM: The Prequel" Mixtape

Estelle has, well, actually released a mixtape this time, a prequel to her upcoming album All Of Me called, um, AOE: The Prequel. Head on over to DatPiff to cop it!

Mary J. Blige & Estelle Perform On Dancing With The Stars

Mary J. Blige "25/8"



Mary J. Blige "Real Love"



Estelle & Chubby Checker "The Twist"
Mary J. Blige took to the Dancing With The Stars stage this week to perform her new single "25/8", which had me liking the song more, & classic "Real Love". Meanwhile, Estelle was joined by Chubby Checker in performing his classic "The Twist".

Estelle On Cee Lo Green Talking To Strangers

"Pretty Please (Love Me)" collaborators Estelle & Cee Lo Green visited on the latter's talk show Talking To Strangers, while the former also performed her hit "American Boy" in addition to giving her first performance of "Break My Heart" off the upcoming album All Of Me. I do did like "American Boy", but "Break My Heart" is such a better song & really deserves to be recognized.

Estelle "All Of Me" Update

There's no telling when Estelle's third studio album All Of Me will finally arrive, but when it does, chances are we'll have all of the production credits pieced together! The most exciting recent revelation is that the album will feature a collaboration with Janelle Monae entitled "Do My Thing" that Ne-Yo wrote. In addition, Akon wrote the Jerry Wonder-produced "Thank You". Plus, we now know that the Common-assisted track "Victorious" was produced by No I.D. There seems to be a decent amount of buzz surrouding Estelle's latest single "Break My Heart" if Twitter is any indication, but apparently not even enough for an approximate album release date.

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Estelle ft. Rick Ross "Break My Heart" Video Premiere

"Break My Heart", featuring Rick Ross, is the latest lead single off Estelle's forthcoming album All Of Me. I like the song & it's a pretty cool video... they took their good ol' time with it, but I really hope this song will chart now!

Estelle "All Of Me" Update + More

A few more details about Estelle's oft-delayed new album All Of Me have come to light. The album, which was initially due last September, is now due this September & set to include a Common feature on a track called "Victorious". In addition, Jerry Wonda productions "Wonderful Life", "Like A Boyfriend", & "Tears" are set for inclusion. Prior to All Of Me's release, Estelle is planning on putting out a mixtape with Don Cannon. The mixtape, which might be called either Freak World or #AfterIAlmostMadeAMixtape (which I think is cute), will feature the reggae-tinged cut "Something Wrong" as well as some live recordings from the Essence Music Festival last year. Lots of Estelle coming! Just the way I like it. Y'all should definitely check out her new single "Break My Heart" with Rick Ross if you haven't already!

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Estelle, David Banner, & Daley "Benz" Video Premiere + More

"Benz" is Estelle's collaboration with David Banner & Daley that will serve as a viral ad campaign for said car. Well... Estelle's part was good! In related news, check out her cool new single:

Break My Heart (ft. Rick Ross)

Estelle "All Of Me" Update + More

For her third attempt at kickstarting her upcoming album All Of Me, Estelle will be releasing the Rick Ross-assisted, Don Cannon-produced single "Break My Heart" on Monday. Cross your fingers! And, busy producer Jerry Wonda has also put in work on All Of Me, so hopefully we'll get to hear what they came up with sooner than later. In addition, um, check this out (& look out for more on Tuesday):

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Estelle Performs For MySpace's The Release

Estelle debuted her new long locks at an LA show that just so happened to be streaming live by MySpace's The Release. Not particularly feeling the look, but you warm up to it as you watch the show. Her hour-long set was energetic, entertaining, & even included some new material off her upcoming album All Of Me, which is due next summer. Check out the setlist below:

No Substitute Love
So Much Out The Way
Come Over
Midnight Hour
Pretty Please (Love Me)
Get Ready (The Temptations Cover)
DJ Play The Beat
Shine
Back To Love Again
All Day Long (Blue Skies)
You Are
Wait A Minute (Just A Touch)
Let Him Know*
Freak
One Love
Fall In Love
American Boy

* = New song, unsure of the title

Estelle, Janelle Monae Contribute To "For Colored Girls" Soundtrack

In addition to Leona Lewis, Estelle & Janelle Monae both grace the "For Colored Girls" soundtrack, which hits stores Tuesday. Estelle sings the chill "All Day Long (Blue Skies)":



Meanwhile, Janelle Monae kicks it up a notch on "Without A Fight":

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Jennifer Hudson, Estelle, & Melanie Fiona Perform With John Legend & The Roots On YouTube

Jennifer Hudson & John Legend "Be Grateful"



Estelle & The Roots "You Got Me"



Melanie Fiona, John Legend, The Roots, & Common "Wake Up Everybody"
YouTube, VEVO, & American Express partnered up to stream John Legend & The Roots in concert online, & they were joined by multiple guests, including Jennifer Hudson, Estelle, & Melanie Fiona. While Melanie, sounding fabulous, sang the lead single off their new album Wake Up! again, Jennifer brought the house down with a Walter Hawkins cover & Estelle filled in for Erykah Badu on a Roots tune.

Estelle On Rising Icons

Estelle was also recently featured on BET's series Rising Icons, where she performed "1980" (off her first album The 18th Day... which I've never heard), "Fall In Love", "Freak", & "American Boy" (+ a lil' "No Substitute Love") cut between interview footage & other stuff. Definitely a worthwhile watch, I just wish they didn't run all over the performances so much. Wonder when her All Of Me record's gonna drop...

Estelle Collaborates With Gucci Mane

Not only did Nicki Minaj contribute to Gucci Mane's new album The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted (September 28th), but Estelle is also featured on the track "Grown Man":



I personally think she sounds phenomenal on the hook & that her & Gucci sound great together! Sure wish we had a timeframe on her new album All Of Me though...

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Estelle "Fall In Love" Video Premieres

"Fall In Love" is the first official single (second overall after "Freak") off Estelle's upcoming album All Of Me. Versions of the song with both, each, & neither of these guys have surfaced recently, but check out the one featuring John Legend above & the Nas-featured version below. I think I actually prefer the latter because more of the video's storyline, which includes a love interest played by the guy from Rihanna's "Russian Roulette" video actor Jesse Williams, is featured & I would rather listen to Estelle longer with a little rap section than hear John sing a whole verse honestly.

Estelle "#ialmostmadeamixtape" Mixtape

Estelle has (almost) released a mixtape entitled #ialmostmadeamixtape prior to the release of her third album All Of Me this September. September is too far away, so I'm glad we have something from Ms. Darlings (lol) now! If you wish, check out the "mixtape'"s tracklisting below before downloading it FREE right HERE.

1. #almostanintro

2. Dear London

3. Fall In Love (Remix ft. John Legend & Nas)

4. #almostafreestyle (ft. Kardinal Offishall)

5. Keep It Like It Is

6. They Say (ft. Maino)

7. Star

8. Dance With Me

9. The Rocks

10. No More

11. MainStream

12. Ghetto (ft. Meek Wilson)

13. Until I Met You

14. Since I Came (ft. Vaughn Anthony & The Tom Hardy)

15. I Can Be A Freak (Pon Di Floor Remix)

16. #almostanoutro