This new Twista track is slated to be the first single from the Chicago rapper’s upcoming album ‘Adrenaline Rush’ (due this summer). ‘Give It Up’ was produced by the Neptunes and features Pharrell Williams from group. The song is HOT; the beat is on-point and Twista delivers with his trademark rapid-fire pace on his verses. I’m really feeling the hook as well, it’s catchy. I can see this one doing big things. The Hype Williams directed video should be debuting soon. Check out the track…
Hit or Miss?

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Mya graces the cover of the June /July issue of VIBE Vixen magazine; she looks beautiful. It’s good to see that Mya is finally getting her name out there again. The article looks set to be an interesting read; by ‘Gangsta Boyfriends’ she’ll no doubt address her rumored ‘relationships’ with The Game and 50 Cent. As of now, the ‘My Love Is Like Whoa’ singer is busying herself co-presenting BET’s 106 & Park this week with rapper Bow Wow. Let’s hope her serially delayed album ‘Liberation’ (now due August 14th) will actually hit stores.

Are you liking the cover?

This is the video for Fabolous’ 2nd single from his upcoming album ‘From Nothing to Something’. ‘Make Me Better’ (ft. Ne-Yo) has grown on me since I first heard it and the video isn’t bad at all. Numerous stars make cameo appearances in the video including Roselyn Sanchez from hit TV show ‘Without A Trace’, Ray J and DJ Clue. Fabolous’ new album ‘From Nothing To Something’ drops June 12th.

What do you think?




Rapper/actress, Eve is looking on-point in these pics from the set of her video ‘Tambourine’. From the look of these pics, the video should be great; I’m anxious to see how it turns out. It’s been a long while since we’ve seen or heard anything -musically- from Eve, so hopefully she brings ‘it’. The video for ‘Tambourine’ will premier May 24th on BET’s Access Granted.

The video for Timbaland’s latest single ‘Throw It On Me’ – which features rock band ‘The Hives’ – debuted last night on an episode of wrestling show WWE Raw. Many of the ‘WWE Divas’ make an appearance in this ‘Sin City’ styled video. I’m liking the song as well as the video; Timbaland has gone very left-field on this project and it really works. Word has it that the super-producer will release ‘The Way I Are’ as a single also and a video has reportedly already been shot.

Hit or Miss?
Having had the chance to listen to R. Kelly’s latest album ‘Double Up’ (due May 29th), I was pleasantly surprised with the tracks. I was anticipating the album being gimmicky considering Kelly claiming the CD was to be ‘70% Hip-Hop & 30% R&B’. However, the album is solid and the ‘Ignition’ singer continues to show why he is largely considered to be one of the great singer-songwriters of modern R&B. Check out some of my personal highlights from the set:

LISTEN: Best Friend (ft. Keyshia Cole & Polow Da Don)
LISTEN: In The Zoo
LISTEN: Leave A Message
LISTEN: Hook It Up

Will you be buying ‘Double Up’?

American Idol winner Fantasia performed her current single ‘When I See U’ on BET 106 & Park yesterday. I’m really feeling the song and it’s great to see her finally promoting the single, especially since it’s been a few weeks since the video debuted. This performance was hot; Fantasia delivered vocally and the harmonizing with the backing singers at the end was a nice touch. In other, Fantasia news, it has been announced that the singer has won an award for Outstanding Broadway Debut Performance at the 63rd Annual Theatre World awards. This was for her performance in the leading role as Celie in the Broadway production of The Color Purple. More power to her.

What did you think of the performance?

Rihanna performed her UK #1 single ‘Umbrella’ over here this past weekend at BBC Radio 1’s ‘Big Weekend’. The Bajan beauty has really developed a stage presence and the performance was pretty good. Her live vocals still need some working on though, as there were a few obvious off-key moments during the performance.

What do you think of the performance?

The NY Daily News is reporting that Diddy allegedly assaulted his ‘Making The Band’ co-star Laurie-Ann Gibson during the filming of the hit shows new season. According to Gibson the ‘Come To Me’ rapper tried to throw a chair at her during a heated argument. Former New Edition member Michael Bivens – a guest judge on the show- is alleged to have been involved too. MTV apparently caught the incident on camera. Check out the report:

In the complaint filed with Manhattan cops May 11, Gibson said she got into a heated argument with Diddy and celebrity judge Michael Bivins during the April 25 filming of the MTV show at a branch of New York Sports Clubs in Greenwich Village.

Gibson said the two men started yelling and cursing at her when she told them the dancers had been given only a day to practice in order to see what they would do in a crunch.

Bivins then allegedly grabbed her while Diddy picked up a chair and threatened her. She said she broke free, tried to run and Bivins allegedly grabbed her once again. Then she left, the complaint stated.

Sources said Diddy fired her during the angry exchange – and at one point yelled for the MTV cameras to be shut off.

Reps for Diddy have rubbished Gibson’s claims and deemed her just another person trying to ‘take advantage of his (Diddy’s) celebrity status’; investigators looked into the claim and reported ‘no criminal’ activity’.

I find it hard to believe that Gibson – who has been associated with Diddy for more than 10 years – would make this up to capitalize on his fame. Whatever the case, it will be interesting to see if MTV screen this in the new season of ‘Making The Band’ especially since they will have to explain Gibson’s sudden removal from the show. Scandal.

Upon listening to Rihanna’s third album ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’ it is immediately apparent that – as the title suggests – the Bajan star has shed her innocent image and replaced it with a more sexed-up/edgier sound. The resulting tracks, however, are an unevenly balanced collection of great songs and tracks that are average-at-best.

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This new Keyshia Cole track is slated to be featured on her anticipated sophomore album ‘Just Like You’ (due later this year). I’m really liking this one; it’s a smooth track, which samples a number of past hits – most notably Notorious BIG’s ‘Juicy’. Keyshia sounds great; Missy and Kim are welcome additions to the song too – with both delivering hot verses. I’m really looking forward to Keyshia’s upcoming CD, as the first was solid. Anyway, check out the track…
Hit or Miss?

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Kanye West – Can’t Tell me Nothing

This DJ Toomp produced track is scheduled to be the first single from Kanye’s upcoming third album ‘Graduation’. ‘Can’t Tell Me Nothing’ is a decent mid-tempo song, which sounds a lot like a typical Kanye track i.e. sample-laden. Having said this, I’m unsure why they would select this as the first single; it doesn’t strike me as first-single material. I feel that he needs to come harder than this. It’ll be interesting to hear what the other material from ‘Graduation’ sounds like.

LISTEN: Can’t Tell Me Nothing
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Cassie – Sometimes (ft. Ryan Leslie)
After the flopping of Cassie’s 2nd single ‘Long Way 2 Go’ and the backlash she received from her terrible live performances, I assumed she had disappeared into music obscurity. However, she has posted this new song ‘Sometimes’ on her Myspace page, stating that it’s the first completed track from her current studio sessions with producer Ryan Leslie. To my surprise, I’m actually feeling the track. It’s well-known that Cassie has very little vocal ability, but her delivery on this is better than I’ve heard from her before; Ryan Leslie’s production is on-point too. I doubt the track is likely to gain her anymore fans, but it’s still good nonetheless.

LISTEN: Sometimes (ft. Ryan Leslie)
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Jennifer Hudson – Special (ft. Papoose)
I’m not entirely sure whether this new Jennifer Hudson track is from her upcoming album or a mixtape; either way it’s good to hear some new material from the Oscar winner. ‘Special’ is a well-produced mid-tempo track, in which Hudson really showcases her power-house vocals. I do expect better from her, though, and hope that her album has more to offer.

LISTEN: Special (ft. Papoose)
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What do you think of the New Songs?
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