As previously reported, Usher and wife Tameka Foster are featured on the cover of November’s issue of Essence magazine. Check out a few extracts from their joint interview:

Usher on how the media and bloggers reacted negatively to the news of his engagement to Tameka Foster:

“It was like, wow. (Getting married) and having a child is something that everyone should celebrate. What’s happened to us as a culture and a people? I’m not ignorant, so I’m not going to go out there and lash out….”

Usher on how he and Tameka have stayed strong:

“Ours is not a typical love story, but it is a true one. Tameka and I have been fortunate enough to go through the thick of it in the beginning. We’ve had that opportunity to huddle up as a team, to make sure that we’re clear and speak as one voice.”

Tameka on when she knew to trust her instincts, instead of her girlfriends, about starting a relationship with her future husband:

“Thank God I didn’t listen to my girlfriends…. Usher was my road dawg. I’d seen him love, and I’d watched him date women who were not worthy of him. He was so sweet, going out of his way to cater to their every need. And I’d see them not even be grateful.”

Tameka on falling for her husband:

“I feel totally uninhibited with Usher. I’ve never been in a situation with anyone, even as far back as high school, where there were no secrets. I know I can tell him anything and he’s not going to judge me. I can finally share my dreams. And because of that, I know that man loves me.”

Blah. I find it funny how they totally dodged anything to do with the controversy surrounding Usher’s mom and their marriage. Though I don’t really care for their union, I still think there’s something kinda ‘off’ with it – no matter how much they profess their love for one another.

Your thoughts?

The video for the first single from Jay-Z’s forthcoming ‘American Gangster’ album premiered yesterday. Famed director Hype Williams directed the video for the Pharrell Williams produced ‘Blue Magic’. I don’t know if it’s because I’m not feeling the song or what, but the video is ‘just there’ to me – nothing more, nothing less. If Jay insists on cranking out more albums (especially after the lukewarm reception his last CD met), then he’ll have to come harder than this.

What do you think of the video?

With the release of Cherish’s new album set for early next year, the CD’s alleged first single has surfaced. The track, which features Bad Boy’s Yung Joc, is somewhat of a departure from their material of past. Unfortunately, I don’t feel it to be a step in the right direction; the track sounds very generic and doesn’t really go anywhere. Here’s hoping they bring the goods with the rest of the album.

Hit or Miss?

 

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It has been announced that the release of Mary J. Blige’s forthcoming album ‘Growing Pains’ has been pushed back. The CD, which was originally supposed to drop on November 27th, will now hit stores 2 weeks later on December 11th. Interestingly, the album will now go head-to-head with Ashanti’s comeback ‘The Declaration’ which also drops on the same date. {Source}
I’m guessing Mary’s label are hoping to capitalize on the Holiday sales season, as they did with the release of her last album ‘The Breakthrough’ back in December 2005. It makes sense, but whether it’ll work again is uncertain. A tidbit: Poor Ashanti (no really). Her album was reportedly pushed back in order not to compete with Mariah and now she dropping the same day as Mary. What’s more, there is still talk that Mariah’s album may be held back a week to drop on December 11th too; if that were to happen, Ashanti’s release would, no doubt, get lost in the shuffle. Whatever the case, the next few months should be pretty interesting.

Your thoughts?
Jennifer Lopez has gone into promotion overdrive for her new CD ‘Brave’ (which hits stores today in the US) and has seemingly been everywhere as of late. She performed a mini-set yesterday on ‘Good Morning America’ consisting of current singles ‘Do It Well’ and ‘Hold it Don’t Drop It’. Despite her not really ‘working’ the stage, I kinda enjoyed both performances. This whole being pregnant thing (which we all know she is) is doing wonders for her live vocal ability; without choreography she doesn’t sound bad live at all.

What do you think of the performance / Will you be buying ‘Brave’?

Former ‘Moesha’ star and Kevin Federline’s ‘Baby Momma’, Shar Jackson, is currently a contestant on MTV reality show ‘Celebrity Rap Star’. On a recent episode, Jackson performed Twista’s 2004 hit ‘Overnight Celebrity’. Woah! She nailed it! From her flow to to her overall swagger, she was on-point. Though I’m sure the show is tacky as anything, it’ll hopefully help her shake off the ‘Kevin Federline’s useless ex’ tag she’s had on her for the last couple of years. She’s really got skills.

What do you think of her performance?

From left to right: Slick Em, Baby Blue, Spectacular and Pleasure

It has been confirmed that Pleasure (aka “the one who sings” lol) has severed ties with Pretty Ricky. Speaking via his MySpace, he had the following to say:

HEY YALL I WANT TO ADRESS SOMETHING TO YALL. I LOVE EACH AND EVERYONE OF MY FANS AND I WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING TO UPSET YALL AND DISSAPOINT YALL. I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO ALL OF MY BALTIMORE FANS. I WANT TO SAY THAT IT IS TRUE I HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY SOMEONE ELSE IN THE GROUP PRETTY RICKY, SO IF YOU SEE THE GROUP ON STAGE ITS NOT ME BUT ANOTHER PERSON. I LOVE MY BROTHERS AND I WILL ALWAYS LOVE THEM WE HAVE NO BEEF BUT I FEEL ITS TIME FOR ME TO GIVE YALL WHAT YALL BEEN WAITING FOR A R N B ALBUM!!!! IF IT WASNT FOR PRETTY RICKY THEY WOULD NEVER BE NO PLEASURE P. IM NOT HERE TO DISS THE GROUP, BUT IM HERE TO LET YALL KNOW WHATS GOING ON… IM WORKING ON A ALBUM JUST FOR MY SUPERSTARS AND ILL ALSO BE IN A CITY NEAR YOU TO COME AND VISIT YALL!!!!

The news hardly comes as a surprise; I’ve gotten the vibe for a while that he wanted out of the group. It makes sense too as he was obviously the most talented and was only being held down by the others. Saying that, besides an ‘ok’ voice, I’m yet to see anything that would make him standout in the already-overcrowded male R&B market.
Your thoughts?
Fresh off Tweet’s appearance on VH1’s Hip Honors event this past week, the singer’s new single has surfaced. ‘My Dear’ is the lead track from Tweet’s third album entitled ‘Love, Tweet’. The track was originally recorded by Ciara, but never released. I kinda have mixed feelings about this one; on the one hand, Tweet’s vocals (and it’s arrangement) flow effortlessly over the mid-tempo production – making for a pretty good track. However, T.I. verse serves no purpose and it feels as if he’s on the song just to sell it. What’s more, I can’t help but feel a little cheated that instead of hitting us with something really new, we get a Ciara re-hash. Still, it’s enough for me simply because this rare talent is back. Here’s hoping the album lives up to the standard of it’s predecessors.

Hit or Miss?

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VH1’s annual Hip Hop Honors show aired in the US yesterday (October 8th). Among those recognized for their contributions to Hip Hop was rapper/producer Missy Elliot. Tweet, Timbaland, Eve, Keyshia Cole and Ciara performed an awesome medley of Elliot’s hits. It kinda served as a reminder of what a great talent Missy is and how much she has pushed the boundaries in Urban music.

What do you think of the performance?

Rapper Trina appears in the latest issue of Ocean Drive magazine. Seems like photographer Billy Coleman went crazy with Photoshop in post-production; I know Trina has dropped a few pounds as of late, but come on now! Click here to read see more pics / read the full article.

In other news, February 12th 2008 has been set as the release date for Trina’s new album ‘Still The Baddest’ (IMO a much better title than it’s previous name: ‘Baddest Bitch 2’). The CD will drop via Slip-N-Slide/EMI and will be lead by the single ‘Single Again’.

What do you think of the pic(s)?

It has been confirmed that fan and critic favourite ‘Still In Love With My Ex’ will be the next single to be lifted from Kelly Rowland’s sophomore effort ‘Ms. Kelly’. The single will precede the forthcoming album re-release which her label have announced will hit stores ‘Early 2008’. Producers JR Rotem (‘All Eyez On Me’, ‘SOS’) and Danja (‘Gimme More’, ‘My Love’), as well as rapper Lil’ Wayne are slated to feature on the re-vamped set. {Source} (Thanks Yunstar!)
Someone over at her label must really be rooting for Kelly; despite poor sales, she’s getting a third single, tour and a re-release. Though, I’m not a big fan of ‘Still In Love With My Ex’, releasing it is the smartest thing done with this project so far. With it’s undeniable cross-over appeal, I really see this song being Kelly’s ‘Irreplaceable’.

Your thoughts?

Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4

With Jennifer Lopez’s new album ‘Brave’ seeing it’s US tomorrow (out now in Europe), the singer took time out from touring to hit up MTV’s TRL today to promote the CD. I’m actually anxious to see how the album does; reviews, so far, have been been pretty mixed and this album is seemingly make or break for her music career. A tidbit: she needs to admit the pregnancy already – she can only keep wearing those tent dresses for so long.

Your thoughts?

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