Hip-Hip/Soul Queen Mary J. Blige has decided to rename her forthcoming album, changing the title from ‘Stronger’ to ‘Stronger With Each Tear’. The record is preceded by the singer’s new song ‘I Am’ which she is expected to perform for the first time at this Sunday’s star-studded American Music Awards. Blige’s new LP hits stores on November 22nd.

Am I the only who has lost interest in this album? Both Blige and Usher are releasing albums on the same day yet there has been little buzz about either of their projects and neither have managed to achieve blockbuster success with their first singles. As two of R&B’s premier artists, I would have expected such direct competition to garner a lot of media hype but with the average material that both have released, I can’t blame the public for not being engrossed in the situation. It is a complete gamble on which act will have higher sales, or if they will even ship large numbers at all.

Filed Under: Mary J. Blige

Hip-Hop/Soul Queen Mary J. Blige has dropped the second single from her forthcoming album ‘Stronger’. The song, entitled ‘I Am’, was written by hit-maker Johnta Austin and produced by Stargate. Blige’s LP will now hit stores on December 22nd after being pushed back from the last projected release date of December 15th.

I enjoyed the vibe of this song. The production was sound and her vocal delivery hit the mark. On the other hand, the almost cliche ”O O O’s” near the end of the track are reminiscent of something that The-Dream would have included on one of the many songs he did with Mariah Carey (see ‘Standing O’ and ‘Obsessed’). Either way, I foresee this song achieving respectable radio airplay figures, especially on the Hip-Hop/R&B charts.

Thoughts?

Filed Under: Mary J. Blige

R&B royalty Mary J. Blige gave a rousing rendition of  the US national anthem, ‘The Star Spangled Banner’, at the final of the World Series at the Yankee Stadium in New York last night. Though not the best live showing I’ve seen of the song, Mary held her own with the song, which many a diva has tried their hand at.

Tidbit: The New York Yankees won their 27th World Series title, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies to do so.

What do you think of Mary’s rendition?

Filed Under: Mary J. Blige

Originally scheduled to hit stores December 15th,  Mary J Blige’s forthcoming LP ‘Stronger’ will now arrive in stores December 22nd – just in time for the Christmas sales surge.

Her team making such a move screams strategic, as well as a little desperate (yes I said it!). The album, Mary’s 9th, was previously set to battle it out with Alicia Keys’ latest effort as well as Chris Brown’s comeback and Lil’ Wayne too. Yet, with her Drake-assisted single ‘The One’ struggling on the charts and there being an unusually low awareness level of her project in its entirety, the Christmas week move seems like it’ll be her best bet on the sales front.

It’ll be quite interesting to see how things pan out with her project post-Christmas, as – having released her last few LP’s  in that exact release window – someone, be it her label or management etc, seem to drop the ball and her album’s seem to disappear into a black hole (see: ‘Growing Pains’). Here’s hoping this time proves different.

Your thoughts?

Filed Under: Mary J. Blige

As R&B diva Mary J Blige prepares for the release of her 9th studio album, ‘Stronger’, on December 15th, the track that she recorded for another of her highly anticipated projects has surfaced. The track, entitled ‘I Can See In Color’, will serve as the theme song for the upcoming move ‘Precious’, which will debut in theatres on November 6th.

There is a reason why Mary J is known as the ‘Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul’ and I think after listening to this track, everyone will know why. Her vocal delivery, though not pitch-perfect like many of her contemporaries, is raw, powerful and gritty yet relatable and honest. I can’t think of a single song on the radio today that has moved me the way that this track has after listening to only the first 60 seconds.

To be honest I was a bit upset that Mariah Carey’s ‘100%’ was replaced as the film’s official theme song but now that I’ve heard Mary J’s offering, I have no further quarrel. It definitely has my vote for ‘Best Original Song’ at next year’s Academy Awards. Sheer Brilliance.

Hit or Miss?

Filed Under: Mary J. Blige

Filed Under: Jay Z, Kanye West, Kid Kudi, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna

Filed Under: Drake, Mary J. Blige

“It’s a really sexy song, but we don’t want to fall into the typical love, love, love R&B vibe with that,” he revealed. “So it’s a misdirection, so to speak. I won’t give too much away, but it starts where you think, ‘Oh, it’s about her and being sexy.’”

But things take an unexpected turn when Hilson’s friends catch her feeling herself a little too much. “She’s in her house and by herself, and you kind of think it could be serious, but the song drops out in the middle and her friends catch her being all sexy, basically like, ‘What the f**k are you doing? You are not singing by yourself.’”

The twist portrays her as a woman who doesn’t take herself too seriously. “Keri Hilson has a great personality and is a real girl. That’s what we want to get across.”

Sounds interesting. With ‘Slow Dance’ standing as my favourite Keri cut, I’m definitely looking forward to this one.

Filed Under: Mary J. Blige

Filed Under: Mary J. Blige

Filed Under: Mary J. Blige

Usher’s wife Tameka Foster Raymond has suffered a serious injury due to complications from plastic surgery in Brazil, reports Access Hollywood.

On Saturday night, Usher canceled his performance at the Recording Academy and Clive Davis’s Pre-Grammy Gala. Davis told party-goers the singer had to bow out due to a “serious injury in the family.”

On Sunday, Davis, Sony Music Worldwide’s chief creative officer, told PEOPLE. “I talked to his mom. My thoughts are with them, whatever they’re facing.” {Source}

Filed Under: Estelle, Jennifer Hudson, Kanye West, Lil' Wayne, Mary J. Blige, Ne-Yo

Following Kanye’s debut of new single ‘Love Lockdown’ at the VMA’s last Sunday, the studio version of the cut has surfaced. With the Chi-Town rapper not actually rapping lol, this one really requires one to open their mind to ‘get it’. I’m really liking this one all the same though. Kudos to Kanye for stepping out of the box.

Filed Under: Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas, Chris Brown, Duffy, Fergie, Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Pussycat Dolls, Rihanna, Solange, Timbaland

It’s so refreshing to see an artist so genuinely psyched to be back doing what they love. There is an immense buzz surrounding Brandy and her ‘comeback’, so things are looking real good for the 29 year old.

Randomess: The acappella of ‘Right Here (Departed)’ sounded fantastic.

Your thoughts?

Filed Under: Ashanti, Beyonce, Ciara, Fergie, Keyshia Cole, Leona Lewis, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Nicole Scherzinger, Rihanna

Filed Under: Ashanti, Beyonce, Ciara, Fergie, Keyshia Cole, Leona Lewis, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Nicole Scherzinger, Rihanna