Missy Elliott quite literally wears many hats. However, millions would agree that the most fitting of them all is that of “innovator.”

Billboard certainly agree; the industry giant has just announced that the rap pioneer will be honored with the inaugural Innovator Award at Billboard’s Women in Music 2015 next month.

Details below…

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Factually speaking, we’re in an era where vocal ability is almost an “etcetera” for singers rather than a requirement.

Thankfully, there are still a select few flying the flag for talent. Case in point R. Kelly.

The R&B star, whose new album ‘The Buffet’ drops December 11th, performed the US National Anthem (The Star Spangled Banner) at the Brooklyn Nets NBA game last night at the Barclays Center.

Proving his voice has aged like a fine wine, Robert belted like no other.

Watch below…

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Rap icon Missy Elliott is storming the comeback trail with galactic new single ‘WTF (Where They From).’ And she’s wasting no time hitting the promo circuit either. Check out her new Billboard magazine cover above.

The Virginia native’s return is one many thought they’d never see. After all, in an industry where audience attention spans are shrinking, her 10 year hiatus as an artist (guest features excluded) may as well have been double that.

Yet, as the age old adage goes, patience is a virtue. And Elliott’s fans, as well as the music industry at large, were rewarded handsomely when the Pharrell assisted jam was unleashed one week ago.

In a juicy sit-down with with Billboard, the femcee opens up about her return, being shy, and her new album. She also offers an interesting response when quizzed (naturally) on Nicki Minaj.

Excerpts below…

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Slight change of plans for Chris Brown.

The R&B crooner was set to unleash new album ‘Royalty’ next week, but fans will have to wait a short while longer for the project.

Details on C.Breezy’s delayed gratification after the jump…

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Sony Music Entertainment has high hopes for its leading lady Adele and her latest set ’25.’

How high?

Find out below…

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The terrorist group ISIS’ horrific slaughter of innocent Parisians last week has forced the Pop royal Madonna to employ a number of new security measures to protect she and her fans during her forthcoming European shows.

Her plans after the jump…

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“That darn Adele.”

We’re pretty sure that’s a phrase being uttered by many-an-artist lining the Billboard’s Hot 100 for the past two weeks and will probably be for the next two years.  Indeed, the elusive chanteuse returned with fury to the chart with a blockbuster comeback single ‘Hello’ – which set a first week sales record upon its premiere.

Now, three weeks in, the song still shows a slow decline in streaming and sales.  Shifting an additional 480,000 this past week, it remains comfortably perched atop the tally.  Elsewhere, courtesy of Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor, and relative newcomer Elle King, the Hot 100 finally gets a much needed dose of estrogen.  We said the same thing last week due to Ariana Grande‘s promising premiere of ‘Focus’ at #7.

…well, that was then.

The funky, horn-driven groove has slipped, tripped, and dipped right out of the top 10.  See where it, and all of your faves from today, landed on the refreshed chart below:

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Missy Elliott isn’t just back. She’s blazing.

The iconic rapper broke the internet when the video for her comeback track ‘WTF (Where They From)’ landed last week.

Indeed, in what is becoming a real rarity in today’s age, the Dave Meyer‘s directed visual very much felt like an event and was greeted as such (the clip has racked up over 13 million views and counting).

In an interview with Hattie Collins for i-D magazine, Elliott waxed honest about her return; how she’d adjusted to the “normal life,” the apprehension she felt (she literally messed up her weave with nerves), and how Pharrell Williams and Katy Perry were central to her resurgence.

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Adele is setting the record straight.

Earlier this month, erroneous rumors begun doing the rounds; rumors which suggested that the ‘Hello’ hitmaker had turned down a collaboration from her label-mate Beyonce.

During an interview with Beats 1 radio to promote new album ’25’ (due Nov. 20th) the British superstar shot down the claims and asserted her allegiance to Queen Bey – declaring that she’d never disrespect her.

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There are only a handful of artists in the history of ever whose careers can even be mentioned in the same sentence with diva supreme Whitney Houston.  Her illustrious Hot 100 and Billboard 200 resume read of almost untouchable heights and more records set than can be adequately mentioned in one article (“first female to debut at #1 on Billboard 200,” “first artist to sell 1 million albums in one week,” “first and only artist to have 7 consecutive #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100” merely touch the tip the iceberg).

But, as the age old adage goes:  ‘records are made to be broken.’

For, just two weeks ago, Adele said ‘Hello’ to the Hot 100 and history books as her long-awaited return brought with it a massive 1.1 million sold in just one week.  Seeing her name penciled atop the list of ‘most singles sold in one week’ tally, the song’s performance was nearly double that of former record-holder Flo-Rida‘s 636,000 sold for his 2009 single ‘Right Round.’  The impressive chart triumph was widely celebrated, that is, until some outlets began pitting its success against Houston’s signature hit ‘I Will Always Love You’ – which held the overall record for most singles sold in one week at 632,000.

Then, Nippy fans cried foul.  The premise of their argument is simple:  Billboard records should have context…

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Where is Usher‘s new album?

It’s a question we’ve increasingly asked ourselves since he abruptly stopped promoting the “era” after the slew of singles he released last year. [See: ‘Good Kisser,’ ‘She Came To Give It To You,’ and ‘I Don’t Mind.’]

And granted we’re not sure he even knows what’s going on yet, it hasn’t stopped the R&B icon from keeping his visibility up.

Last month saw the 37-year-old team with TIDAL to roll-out the socially-conscious ‘Chains’ and today brings with it the arrival of another new track – ‘Miracles.’

Uniquely, the song premiered in full within a new PEPSI short film. Titled ‘Black Knight Decoded,’ the video project features footage shot from outer space with the UrtheCast camera on the International Space Station.

Get into new Usher below…

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Justin Bieber visited ‘The Tonight Show’ this week and had ample reason to smile.

The pin-up’s new album ‘Purpose’ is on-course for a definitive chart win over rival act One Direction and by a (relative) landslide.

Led by ‘What Do You Mean?,’ the comeback project is set to sell 470k-490k Stateside (to 1D’s 420k) – which, if achieved, will mark the largest first-week debut this year.[Editor’s note: Of course, until the Adele avalanche hits next week].

Not resting his laurels, Bieber took to the stage on the Jimmy Fallon hosted show to perform current single ‘Sorry’ – which has, thus far, peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Call it a comeback.!

Watch JB do his thing after the jump…

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