Following a string of commercial chart disasters, it is being reported today that Jennifer Lopez has been dropped by long-time label Epic Records. Ouch!

The singer/actress’ manager Benny Medina is said to have confirmed the news via email to Deadline.com, asserting that the split was an amicable one; one which occurred after the 40 year old mother of two had fulfilled her contractual obligations to the label upon the release of her last single ‘Louboutins’ – which tanked terribly on the charts upon its release early this year. Lopez’s team are said to have also shot down claims that her album ‘Love?’ was already completed, insisting that it has a been at an infant stage for a while yet (despite press listening sessions, and confirmed producer credits from the likes of Danja and D Mile).

However, such suggestion of Lopez’s departure being amicable is being rubbished by some close to the project. Instead, they reveal, it was Epic who sent Lopez packing after her series of chart flops. The label are said to ‘no longer know who Lopez’s audience are any more’. Worse still, Lopez’s forthcoming LP is said to have indeed been completed and ready for release in April.

Lopez is said to be in talks with LA Reid for a move to Def Jam.

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This hardly comes as a surprise (and we actually exclusively revealed the fact not all was well with the project a while back). Despite several high-profile media appearances, Ms. Jenny From The Block just couldn’t strike it lucky with any of her new material. Which, when coming off the epic flop (pun intended) that was her 2007 effort ‘Brave’ as well as the current economy, never was going to bode well for her this go round.

In any case, it appears Ms. Marc-Anthony is pressing on and keeping it moving. The Def Jam deal doesn’t sound that far fetched either; some may recall the pics of Jennifer and her manager Benny Medina meeting with LA Reid and Rihanna earlier this month. I guess it wasn’t so much of a random gathering after all. (It would be rather wise for ol’ Jenny to look at Def Jam’s track record as of late with the likes of Janet Jackson and Amerie before signing on the dotted line).

Randomness: Should Jennifer sign to Def Jam, she’d be on the same label as old rival Mariah Carey (remember this? LMAO!). Then again, reliable word has it Mariah is on her way out from Def Jam, so maybe not?….

Your thoughts?

Check out these snaps of diva Mariah Carey and husband of two years Nick Cannon nearby their Bel Air home yesterday (courtesy of our good friend The YBF).

Ol’ Mimi is “looking so HOT Tamale”! I joke. Everyone has their ‘off days’, including our Mariah. Plus, we all know she looks great when glammed up…

Your thoughts?

Rihanna celebrated her 22nd birthday in Arizona this weekend. The model partied with a large crowd of guests including her close personal friend, Matt Kemp. Amongst the presents the ‘Hard’ performer received from Kemp was a lap dance from little person, ‘Bridget the Midget’.

I have no words…

Thoughts?

Hip-Hop megastar Jay-Z kicked off his ‘Blueprint 3’ tour in Fort Lauderdale, Florida this weekend. The rapper performed a string of his hits at the sold out event which was opened by R&B singer Trey Songz. The after party, which was held at LIV in the FountainBleau Hotel, was attended by none other than Jay-Z’s wife, Beyonce. Check out more pics below:

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R&B Queen Sade made a special appearance on ‘The Wanda Sykes Show’ recently. The contralto took part in a hilarious skit which featured her rejecting Sykes’ please for her to perform on the show. Sade’s album ‘Soldier of Love’ just debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 with over 501k units sold.

Many people tend to think that Sade is very boring or out of touch with the current generation. Quite the contrary, she seems very much in-tuned with what’s going on with today’s generation. Sade has admitted to be a big fan of Drake, Alicia Keys and even Rihanna’s ‘Rated R’ LP. No wonder she has managed to remain relevant after all these years!

Thoughts?

Ke$ha made a guest appearance on ‘Alan Carr: Chatty Man’ this weekend. The Valley girl performed her new single ‘Blah Blah Blah’ for the British audience. To date, the song has peaked at #7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #11 on the UK Singles Chart.

Thoughts?

The Youtube Community have come together for their own unique spin on Quincy Jones’ ‘We Are The World 25 For Haiti’. Featuring some of the popular site’s biggest artists and cover acts, this Web 2.0 take on the song, is better than the 2010 Biber, Kanye, J.Hudson et al remake (which in itself was a very commendable effort). Awesome stuff!

Your thoughts?

Universal Motown‘s latest signee Kelly Rowland is currently wrapping up the recording process of her hotly anticipated 3rd solo album, and it appears the 29 year old has left the best till last. Following recent confirmation that she’s has been recording with hit-makers Ne-Yo and Danja, it has now been revealed that the Destiny’s Child star has also been working with Polow Da Don on the project in Los Angeles. {Source}

Rowland worked with Polow on her 2007 smash ‘Like This’; the then-little-known producer, real name Jamal Jones, went on to craft hits for the likes of Ciara (‘Promise’), Fergie (‘London Bridge’, ‘Glamorous’), Usher (‘Love In This Club’), Keri Hilson (‘Turnin’ Me On’), and Chris Brown (‘Forever’).

Kelly and her new team are NOT playing this go round. I love it! As we reported, the album’s first single is set to drop in April, with the album following in May/June.

Your thoughts?

A glowing Janet Jackson was spotted at the Finch & Partners Pre-BAFTA Party here in London last night. The reclusive superstar, 43, is currently recording her 11th studio album (due May), an LP which will serve a sher first on her new record label Interscope.

Your thoughts?

The Sugababes took to the stage on BBC’s ‘Let’s Dance For Sports Relief’ last night, performing new single ‘Wear My Kiss’. You can check out how the ladies fared above…

Though kinda ‘just there’, the trio held their own vocally for the most part. I say ‘for the most part’, as Heidi sounded (as usual) like she was in need of oxygen. Not a good look.

What do you think of the performance?

Ke$ha hit the stage on the UK’s GMTV yesterday. The Pop sensation performed ‘Blah Blah Blah’, the 2nd single from her #1 debut album, ‘Animal’. Thus far, the song has peaked at #7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #11 on the UK Singles Chart. Ke$ha’s 1st single, ‘Tik Tok’, remains at #1 for a 9th week on the Hot 100 and if it maintains that position for 1 more week, it would tie Debbie Boone’s record for the longest running #1 debut single by a female artist.

Ke$ha put on a basic show by her standards. However, I’m sure that I’m not the only one who hears strong similarities between this track and ‘Tik Tok’. Isn’t it interesting that the latter is already more successful on the Billboard Hot 100 than Mariah Carey’s ‘Vision of Love’ or even Alicia Keys’ ‘Fallin”? O how the times have changed…

Thoughts?

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Pop phenomenon Lady GaGa bares all in the latest issue of Q Magazine. The saucy shoot, which was snapped by John Wright, and sees the 23 year old reveal a…well…take a look at the pics below!

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Your thoughts?