With the due date of Monica‘s ‘New Life’ fast approaching, the singer whets appetites with a new 5-snippet sampler.

Take a listen after the jump…

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Hip-Pop star Nicki Minaj is looking to make her mark with sophomore set ‘Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded’.

And so as to underscore her point, the eccentric femcee makes a mucky mess in these rainbow-flavoured promo pics.

It marks the latest push for the hotly anticipated LP, which arrives in stores globally this week (out in the UK now). Whether Minaj’s media flood will pay off will be palpable this time next week.

In the meanwhile, peep more of of the Young Money Mrs below…

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As fans know, late pop icon Whitney Houston never made it a secret about her love for gospel music.  Over her storied thirty year tenure in the business, she frequently revisited songs of praise in many of her live showings.  Add to this that 2011’s BET Celebration of Gospel was her last televised showing, it would only be fitting that this years celebration (which aired tonight) would lend a praise worthy performance in her honor.

Get into it all after the jump: (more…)

The Voice UK blazed out of the gate last week with impressive ratings upon its debut on BBC One.

It’s an upwards trajectory which shows no sign of slowing after last night’s episode saw a rise in viewers.

The show, which sees Jessie J, will.i.am, Tom Jones and Danny O’Donoghue serve as “coaches”, pulled in almost 9 million viewers (8.9 million) – besting last week’s tally (8.4 million) by a marked margin.

And while the Dutch format was again bested by rival ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ – which pulled in 10.3 million viewers- it beat the ITV1 show during the 20-minute window in which they overlapped; to the the tune of 2 million more viewers to be exact. A fact which lends credence to suggestion that in their respective bids to out-do each other, both shows are actually helping one another.

In any case, we’re loving the show? Are you?

Your thoughts?

Click here to watch the latest episode of The Voice UK!

R&B singer Brandy decided to leave her girl-next-door image at home in favor of a bolder, avant-garde themed look for her featured spread in ‘YRB Magazine’. It should go without saying, she looks undeniably hot. Everything from the eccentric pieces, to the new cropped hairdo works!

The vocal technician also spilled details surrounding her upcoming LP, ‘Two Eleven’, aptly named after her birthday and the date of Whitney Houston’s passing.

See more shots from the shoot and peep what Brandy had to say about ‘Two Eleven’ after the jump.

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The late, great Whitney Houston beams in this newly surfaced shot from the the set ‘Sparkle’ – her final movie.

Filmed last November, the Jordin Sparks led theatrical is set to hit the big screen this August and is already being tipped as one of the year’s most anticipated releases – following the sudden death of Houston aged 48 on February 11th.

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For yours truly, the pic bittersweet in that it’s both sad and uplifting to see Whitney in such fine form in her final days. Still surreal to think she’s no longer “here”.

What is here to reminisce and dote over, though, is her unmatched array of classics; which, like her legacy, will live on.

Tidbit: The trailer for ‘Sparkle’ premieres tomorrow!

Your thoughts?

 

In the face adversity, Chris Brown‘s ‘Team Breezy‘ remain a cut above any other contemporary fan base.

For, despite the odds being against them, their support of Mr.’Fame‘ is stronger than ever, showcasing their love for the star time and time again.

Not sure what we mean?

Well, today- for the first time in his career- Brown has landed a UK #1 single, without stepping foot in the country to promote it.

Details below…

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She’s called the Queen for a reason.

Yes, while many would like to write Madonna off as the Margo to GaGa‘s Eve, it appears the former is just as popular today as she has ever been- despite the continuous age bias her cause suffers from.

Because, as of today, she has scored her 12th UK #1 album with ‘MDNA‘.

Details below…

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…minus Raz-B.

They once had the world quite literally at their feet. However, doomed solo and duo runs have seen the boys from B2K teetering on the border of Pop oblivion.

So, in adhering to the Industry 101 (see: three flops are better than one), the group (Omarion, J-Boog, and Lil Fizz) have reunited for a new project of sorts. And while little is known beyond the fact they recently recorded together (see: shot above), one things is certain: controversial member Raz-B will not feature.

Indeed, many will remember Raz’s shocking revelations, which left lead singer Omarion none-too-impressed. Remember this…

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“Y’all tell me, what’s R&B without the the R?”

In the same way the Jackson siblings have inspired and changed the Pop landscape forever, a certain R.Kelly has left an indelible print on R&B; ensuring he go down in history as the undeniable King of R&B.
This week, That Grape Juice honors His-Highness with a throwback to the year 2002, a year when R. was commanding the world to “bounce”. ‘Ignition (Remix)’ is today’s From The Vault pick.
Unleashed during Fall 02, ‘Ignition’ was exactly the homerun Robert needed to keep his career afloat after some  very public drama saw him garner headlines for all the wrong reasons.
A critics’ favorite, it was the single that helped launch the Pied Piper’s fifth album ‘Chocolate Factory’, an LP that would see him write, arrange and produce every single song.
As with many of his releases, it was a worldwide smash, reaching the pole position of the UK Single Charts while peaking at #2 on the US Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Charts
This here is an excellent example of the authenticity and uniqueness of Kelly, from the minimalistic production to the way he rides that beat, the varied vocal delivery to the outlandish metaphors: classic. Actually we dare you to find any other artist who could pull this song off (or who could come up with a song like this entirely by himself).
If the track itself isn’t enough, its simple yet effective club set video will make you wish you were on a dancefloor ready to ‘have you some fun’.
To every R&B hopeful out there: if you are willing to learn, R.Kelly is the one.

Your thoughts?

 

Chris Brown is in the giving mood.

Because last night, while Rihanna dreamed of scoring a #1 album and Trey Songz wasn’t fantasizing about winning a Grammy, Brown released two new cuts, named ‘Oh Yeah’ and ‘See Through‘.

They’re waiting for you below…

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With the obituary of the current line-up of the Sugababes all but read, the group’s original faces are gearing up to stage a storming comeback. One backed by a major label, who according to new reports have signed the ladies to a seven-figure deal.

Details after the jump…

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