I’m still kinda baffled by T-Pain’s staying power; I never would have imagined that he’d be so successful. After all, he is neither the best vocalist or a lady-magnet. Whatever the reason, people are feeling him and this new single/video ‘Bartender’ is set to further cement his place as a viable artist. It’s more of the same from the ‘Buy U A Drank’ singer – nothing groundbreaking or too serious. The song is pretty good and the video serves it’s purpose. T-Pain’s latest album ‘Epiphany’ is currently #1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

What do you think of the video?

Slated to be the 2nd single from T.I.’s upcoming album – ‘T.I. vs T.I.P.’- this new track ‘You Know What It Is’ sees the self-proclaimed ‘King of the South’ collaborate with Wyclef Jean. The song itself is decent and T.I.’s flow is on-point as usual. However, the production is kinda lacking and Wyclef ruins the track with an annoyingly fake Caribbean accent. ‘T.I. vs T.I.P.’ hits stores July 3rd.

Hit or Miss?

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R&B star Ciara recently shot the video for ‘Can’t Leave ‘Em Alone’ – the third single from her current album ‘Ciara: The Evolution’. The Darkchild produced track features 50 Cent and the video is expected to premiere in the coming weeks. Check out the pics from the set:

Though ‘Can’t Leave ‘Em Alone’ is a good track, I would have preferred she release the previously-confirmed 3rd single ‘So Hard’ instead. I can see why the label went with ‘Can’t Leave ‘Em Alone’ though; the song has laid-back summer vibe to it and releasing it during this period would be logical.

What do you think of the pics / single choice?

In news that many would not have forseen, singer T-Pain’s latest album ‘Epiphany’ has outsold Rihannna’s ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’ to secure the #1 position on the Billboard 200 chart. Though mid-week sales indicated neither artist would be in contention for the top spot (Paul McCartney looked set for the position), T-Pain charted at #1 with 171,000 copies sold and Rihanna at #2 – selling 161,000 copies.
Now that the numbers are out, I can’t see Rihanna’s label, Def Jam, being pleased with this. Yes it’s her highest debut yet, but with ‘Umbrella’ being so successful (currently #1 on the Billboard Hot 100) many expected her to move more units than she did. I guess people weren’t buying into the hype.

Why do you think Rihanna didn’t hit #1?
Ja Rule has been laying low these past few years; with little heard from him since the release of his last album R.U.L.E in 2004. However, the rapper is readying his latest LP ‘The Mirror’ for a September 25th release. This new track, Body’, is slated to be the first single from the CD. Produced by 7 Aurelius (Ashanti’s ‘Only U’) and Irv Gotti, ‘Body’ is a typical Ja Rule song – he’s singing on the hook. I’m really feeling this, though; it has a cool summer vibe to it. Many have written Ja off since his feud with 50 Cent a few years back; with 50’s career waning, I’m left wondering:

Can Ja Rule make a comeback?

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I always felt ‘LoveStoned’ was one of the better tracks from Justin Timberlake’s sophomore effort ‘Future Sex/Love Sounds’. However the video is just not cutting it. Sub-par at best, the vid comes across as cheap and rushed. Maybe after the big-budget videos for ‘SexyBack’ and ‘What Goes Around’, the label didn’t have much (funds) to work with? Whatever the case, this is a disappointment.

What do you think of the video?

Keyshia Cole has set the release date for her upcoming sophomore album ‘Just Like Me’. The long-awaited CD will hit stores September 18th. Benny Boom will direct the video for the lead single ‘Let It Go’ – which features Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim – next week. Cole’s last effort ‘The Way It Is’ spawned hits such as ‘I Changed My Mind’ and ‘Love’ and has been certified Platinum.
In other Keyshia Cole news, BET have agreed to air another season of the singer’s reality show ‘Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is’. The new season of the show ‘will focus on preparation for the new album as well as Cole’s mother’s recent release from jail’.
I’m really liking her new single ‘Let It Go’ and if this album is as great as her last, then she’ll be on to a winner.

Will you be checking for Keyshia this time?
After disbanding briefly in 2004, R&B trio Blaque have returned to the music scene. Now signed to Family Over Everything Entertainment/Geffen Records, the ladies are set to release their new album ‘Beauty’ in September. This new song, ‘Blue Jeans’, is slated to feature on the set. If this is any indication of the album’s direction, then I may pass on it. The uptempo club track sounds too generic and doesn’t really go anywhere. I’m hoping the rest of their material is better than this or there may have been no point reuniting.

Hit or Miss?

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Singer Kelly Rowland is asking the public to select the follow-up to her current single ‘Like This’. In partnership with AOL, Kelly has presented eight tracks as potential singles that can be voted for…

Click here to see the options/vote

Which song did you pick?

There seems to be no stopping R&B star Rihanna. The singer’s mega-hit ‘Umbrella’ remains on top of the official UK singles chart and her LP ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’ debuted at #1 on the album chart. This marks the first time the singer has had #1’s on either chart.

It seems all that promo has paid off; Rihanna, 19, has been all over Europe in recent weeks. Even if the album isn’t selling as well in the US, I have a feeling she’ll do very well over here. The new musical direction she has taken on is very much what’s ‘hot’ over here right now. The confirmed 2nd single, ‘Shut Up & Drive’, should further cement her place as a viable artist here.

This sneak peak at the upcoming season of Making The Band has me anticipating the show a little more. Premiering on June 18th, the fourth season of the hit MTV show sees Diddy putting together an all-male ‘super group’. I must say that the end of the vid has me thinking that the whole Diddy/Laurie-Ann controversy was a publicity stunt to promote the show…I guess it worked.

Will you be tuning in to Making The Band 4?

R&B singer and burgeoning Broadway star, Fantasia performed at the 61st Annual Tony Awards last night. Singing ‘I’m Here’ from the Tony-nominated Broadway show ‘The Color Purple’, Fantasia absolutely nailed it. Each time I see her perform the song, she tops the last.

What did you think of the performance?

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