Nelly - 'Long Night (ft. Usher)'Nelly’s forthcoming LP ‘Brass Knuckles’ is set to feature a number of collaborations, including cuts with girlfriend Ashanti, T.I, Chuck D, Ciara, Fergie as well as a host of others. The St. Louis rapper also teams with Usher on ‘Long Night’, which was produced by the latter’s brother JLack. Uninspired and lacking on most fronts, the mid-tempo track kinda left a salty taste in mouth. With Nelly’s last few singles not exactly setting the charts alight, a lot is riding is on the success of this album. For his sake, here’s hoping the record boasts better tracks.

Hit or Miss?

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Britney Video Confirmed For Madonna Tour After increasing speculation, it has been confirmed that Pop star Britney Spears will make a video cameo at Madonna’s upcoming ‘Sticky & Sweet Tour’:

“There is footage being shot of Britney some time this week in conjunction with Madonna’s upcoming (Sticky & Sweet) tour,” Madonna’s publicist, Liz Rosenberg, said in an e-mail Tuesday to The Associated Press. “That is all the information I have available. The rest is `a secret.'”

Rosenberg denied reports that Spears, 26, is shooting a music video.

Madonna guest starred in a music video for Spears’ single “Me Against the Music” in 2003. The singers stirred up controversy that year with an open-mouth kiss at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Madonna, 49, will kick off her tour Aug. 23 in Cardiff, Wales, and wind through European destinations including London and Paris before jumping to the U.S. in October.

She’ll wrap it up Nov. 30 in Mexico City. {Source}

It’s great to see Britney getting herself out there again – slowly, but surely.

Your thoughts?

'Jennifer Hudson' Album Cover The above pic is said to be the official album cover for Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson’s self titled debut – which is due September 30th via J Records. I like…

What do you think of the cover?
Jay-Z In Vogue Italia's 'All Black Issue''Rapping mogul Jay-Z poses it up in fashion magazine Vogue Italia – L’Uomo Vogue. Check out the pics:
Jay-Z In Vogue Italia's 'All Black Issue''Jay-Z In Vogue Italia's 'All Black Issue''Jay-Z In Vogue Italia's 'All Black Issue''
What do you think of the pics?
Check out this great off-camera video from Michelle Williams’ appearance on MTV’s TRL a few weeks back:

For all her success with Destiny’s Child, it’s still refreshing seeing Michelle so genuinely excited and humbled by the reaction of the audience to her song.

Your thoughts?

Check out this video of rapper/actor Ice T taking aim at contemporary rap, more specifically Lil’ Mama and Souljah Boy. It’s worth noting that this was recorded last year, prior to the whole ‘Ice T vs Souljah Boy’ beef:

I guess he has some valid points, but is it really that serious?…

Do you agree with Ice T?

Chris Brown UpdateIt seems teen star Chris Brown is unstoppable at the moment. Check out this press release via his publicists:

Late last month, Pop/R&B sensation Chris Brown received 10 Teen Choice Nominations –the most nods of any Teen Choice Awards nominee. The nominated categories are as follows:

*Choice Male Hottie
*Choice Music: Male Artist
*Choice Music: R&B Artist
*Choice Red Carpet Fashion Icon-Male
*Choice Music: R&B Track “Forever”
*Choice Music: Single “With You”
*Choice Music: Hookup (Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown “No Air”)
*Choice Music: Love Song (Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown “No Air”)
*Choice Music: Hookup (Lil Mama featuring Chris Brown and T-Pain “Shawty Get Loose”)
*Choice Music: Rap/Hip-Hop Track (Lil Mama featuring Chris Brown and T-Pain “Shawty Get Loose”)

Not content to rest on his laurels as an all-around consummate performer, singer, dancer and actor, the 19-year old Tappahannock, VA native further demonstrates his talent as a songwriter; he recently penned Rihanna’s hit new single “Disturbia” with his writing team Graffiti Artiztz. The single is rising the charts, and currently rests at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.

News of the nominations comes as Brown’s newest hit song, “Forever” rises on music and video charts — peaking at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart. Over the past few months, Chris Brown has remained a fixture on the Top 5 songs charts (including his smoldering duet with labelmate Jordin Sparks — “No Air”) and has sold over 1.5 million albums and over 4 million digital songs with “”Forever,” “With You,” “Kiss Kiss” and “Take You Down.”

More power to him…

Your thoughts?

MTV recently caught up with the ladies of Danity Kane on the set of the ‘Bad Girl’ – the long awaited second single from their current LP ‘Welcome To The Dollhouse’:

The vid is apparently set to premiere later this week; about time as well!

Your thoughts?

Songstress Keyshia Cole performed her #1 hit ‘Heaven Sent’ on Good Morning America earlier today. Check out the the interview as well as performance below:

Great performance. I’m really feeling the live band element and Keyshia did pretty well on the vocal side of things too.

What do you think of the performance?
Mariah Covers ELLE Diva Mariah Carey features in the latest issue of ELLE magazine. Check out quotes from her piece as well as her shoot via Mariah Daily:

On her past life:

“When I was in an unhappy place in my life,””I always wanted to be kidnapped. I just wanted a way out, but didn’t have one.” “He sort of kidnapped me and took me on a helicopter ride. Then he re-proposed.””They’ve been calling me Cinderella since I first started out, so, of course, being Cinderella…” “Most people would think, Okay, please! This doesn’t happen in real life.”

On her marriage to Nick Cannon:

“We really kept the whole relationship aspect of it quiet,” “Therefore, we didn’t really ‘date,’ you know what I mean? Because that would have been not quiet or private. I think we didn’t want to give people a chance to be like, ‘What are you doing? What are you talking about? This is so quick… are you sure?”

Mariah In ELLE Mariah In ELLE
Mariah In ELLE Mariah In ELLE

There’s no denying it, she looks great. Thoguh I must ask; is it just me or did her explanation of her ‘relationship’ with Nick Cannon sound like crap? Just a thought…

Any thoughts?

The video for the first single to be lifted from Nas’ forthcoming album (untitled) ‘Hero’ premiered just a few moments ago. Thought the Taj directed clip is pretty much standard-fare, the song, which I’ve had on constant rotation as of late, is the business. It definitely carries the otherwise passable vid.

What do you think of the video?

Usher & Son Cover Essence R&B star Usher appears on the cover of the August issue of Essence magazine along with his 8 month old son, with wife Tameka, Usher Raymond IV. It’s the first glance the world will have had of the infant who born back in November last year. Nice shot.

What do you think of the pic?
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