We’re getting closer and closer to getting our hands on new music from Maxwell.

After sending fans into a frenzy a few weeks ago with the announcement his new album (the second of the ‘blackSUMMERs’night’ trilogy) was due this year, some of those fans may have gone into cardiac arrest after learning the dapper divo will be a headliner at the 2016 Essence Music Festival.

With all signs pointing to proof the R&B crooner’s return was imminent, he took to Instagram over the weekend to silence the rumors by not only giving fans a taste of what to expect from the project’s first single, but also to share news they’ll be hearing it in full…very soon.

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While its poor ratings may suggest otherwise, enough people tuned in to hear Chris Rock slamming Jada Pinkett Smith’s boycott of the 88th Academy Awards and easily made it the “diss heard ’round the world.”

Taking aim at the actress during his ever-controversial opening monologue at this year’s Oscars, Rock rocked headlines for weeks after the showing – even getting the attention of Jada’s Academy Award-nominated husband, Will Smith.

While he kept mum when asked his thoughts on Chris’s diss, Mrs. Pinkett-Smith was a bit more vocal when quizzed.  Hear her response below:

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Madonna‘s brief relationship with the rapper Tupac is to feature in his forthcoming biopic.

Full story below…

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If Dr. Luke had hoped he’d find supporters in the many acts he’s made music for during his drama with the Pop princess Kesha, he’d have been mistaken.

For, after Nicki Minaj, Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift stepped forward to support the latter after she accused him of drugging and sexually abusing her, Kelly Clarkson has blasted him!

What she said?

Find out below…

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(Photo by Paul Morigi/FilmMagic)

Black star power shone its brightest last night for the 2016 BET Honors.

Hosted at the Warner Theater in Washington D.C., the star-studded affair brought out the best and brightest of black Hollywood and beyond to pay homage to this year’s honorees Patti Labelle, Lee Daniels, LA Reid, and more.

With rocking performances from the likes of Grammy winners Usher, Toni Braxton, and more, the showing’s red carpet may have been just as hot as its stage as it was graced by the likes of Monica, Fantasia, Terrence Howard, Jazmine Sullivan, Janelle Monae, and more.

Did you miss any of the action?  See the pics below:

(Photo by Paul Morigi/FilmMagic)

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Another day, another Rihanna Hot 100 record it seems (see full recap here).

The Grammy winning singer, with 14 Hot 100 #1 hits, already boasts the most Hot 100 chart-toppers of her generation.  But, as the ongoing success of her her latest hit ‘Work’ (featuring Drake) suggests, Rih, at the ripe age of 28, may be well on her way to owning boasting rights to “most #1s in history among females.”

She may just be 5 chart-toppers away from laying claim to that title, currently owned by Mariah Carey (18), but today Billboard revealed the Bajan beauty can already celebrate snatching another title from her ‘Hero’ singing musical hero.

Find out what it is below:

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Since the announcement of Zoe Saldana assuming the role of Nina Simone in the legendary singer’s unauthorized biopic, the actress has been fielding slam after slam for donning blackface to make her portrayal true to character.  And, while film critics and fellow entertainers continue to speak out on the hot topic, there’s one detractor who has long taken personal issue with the casting – ‘Brown Skin’ beauty India.Arie.

After taking to the net in 2012 to pen an open letter damning the film for its “parody” of Simone’s story, the songstress recently visited our friends at TheHollywoodReporter to continue her less-than-complimentary weigh in on the film (click here to see its trailer).

Asserting the film ‘propagates institutional racism,’ is ‘tone deaf,’ and even made Simone look ‘ugly,’ tuck in below to read these thoughts and more from Arie:

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“Reunited and it feels so good.”

The words above are some we’re sure were uttered by #Jlovers at news diva Jennifer Lopez had cut ties with Capitol Records and Island Def Jam Music Group to rejoin forces with longtime mentor L.A. Reid and Epic Records family (as reported here).

The announcement, which rocked headlines earlier this week, came amidst a whirlwind promotional tour the singer/actress was on which included pit stops at ‘Wendy Williams,’ ‘Watch What Happens Live,’ ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers,’ and so many more.  Now, as if promo time for ‘American Idol,’ crime drama ‘Shades of Blue,’ and a hotly-selling Vegas stint isn’t enough, brand Lopez is going into overdrive with reports she’s hard at work on a new album.

Coming as the first to follow 2014’s commercially and critically panned ‘A.K.A.,’ tuck in below to hear the latest on her 9th studio album straight from her lips:

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Grammy winning rapper Kendrick Lamar sent fans into a frenzy last week when he dropped his fourth album unannounced.  Released nearly a year to the date of 2015’s acclaimed ‘To Pimp A Butterfly,’ the new project – which features appearances from Bilal, SZA, Cee Lo Green, and many more – went head to head with the highly anticipated new release from 2 Chainz, among others.

Needless to say, Lamar, charging into his next era off quite the high delivered from his much-talked about Grammy performance, wins, and controversial losses, left all of his competition in the dust.

Find out how much everyone’s new favorite rapper is predicted to move this week with his new album ‘untitled unmastered’:

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Last night saw many a major name hit the stage at the 2016 BET Honors at Washington DC’s Warner Theater.

The annual event which honors influential figures in the worlds of entertainment, literature, and philanthropy, this year paid homage to LA Reid, Patti Labelle, Lee Daniels, Mellody Hobson, and Eric Holder.

Set to air on BET on March 14th, pics of the night’s performances – which came courtesy of Usher, Toni Braxton, Fantasia, Jussie Smollett, and more – have surfaced. Check them out above and below…

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Lyricist Lil Mama is pounding the promotional pavement in support of her comeback campaign.

Fresh from the release of ‘Memes,’ the multi-dimensional talent is tackling Rihanna and Drake‘s chart-topping single ‘Work.‘

Very much a visual artiste, she not only raps over the Caribbean-kissed production, she has released a remake video too.

Watch her “werk, werk, werk” after the jump…

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Janet Jackson is prepping a return to the stage later this month as her blockbuster ‘Unbreakable World Tour’ extends to Europe.

Ahead of premiere show in Birmingham, England, the dynamite diva was snapped at Paris Fashion Week looking divine.

Her fine, fresh, fierce appearance will have many fans breathing a sigh of relief following the star’s abrupt postponement of her trek due to the urgent need for surgery. All dates, including another North American arena run, have been rescheduled.

Peep more pics below…

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