This is one of the new promo shots for Kelly Rowland’s ‘Ms Kelly’ album (due June 26th). I am really liking the style; she looks stunning and its cool to see her stepping out of her conventional look.

In other Kelly news, her first single from the new album ‘Like This’ is climbing the charts at a rate no one expected. The Polow Da Don (Promise, Glamourous etc) produced track is currently sitting at #63 on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip Hop tracks without having officially gone for adds on radio. Entertainment Weekly has the track listed at #2 on their ‘MUST List’.

With this project being so hotly anticipated, maybe Kelly will finally have some major success.

Hit-maker Dallas Austin has called out Christina Aguilera and Joss Stone, labelling them ‘chicks who f*ck for tracks’. This has been all over the press today and is not a good look for either artist. Joss Stone, 19, has been getting a lot of negative publicity here in her native country for her erratic behaviour and more recently her alleged relationship with singer/producer Raphael Saddiq. Austin – who produced TLC’s hit ‘No Scrubs’- goes into alot of detail about Christina; and her husband is somehow connected in all this too. All of his comments come across as genuine; plus if he is lying then he has more to lose.

THIS VIDEO IS A MUST SEE!

Dallas On Christina Aguilera:

Dallas On Joss Stone:

Dallas Austin Talking About Joss Stone
Uploaded by apartment3b

As R&B star Mario preps the release of his third album titled ‘Go’ (due July 31st), a new song from the set has leaked called ‘Kryptonite’. The track was produced by Bryan-Michael Cox (We Belong Together, Ride 4 U etc) and it is a great song. It’s cool to see Mario trying something different instead of trying to re-create his biggest hit ‘Let Me Love You’ as he tried with ‘How Do I Breathe’ (also from ‘Go’). I also like the fact that B.Cox switched up his style from the ‘crunk ballads’ he tends to produce to something more upbeat.

This premiered last night on BET. There is nothing innovative or non-standard about the video; however it works. As with most of Ne-Yo’s videos the choreography is on point. I’m feeling the song much more now too; he seems to have carved out his own sound that lets you know its a ‘Ne-Yo’ song. This one should do well.

Oscar Winner Jennifer Hudson has discussed some of the negative rumours that have surfaced since she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The post, which is featured on her MySpace page, seems real sincere and makes you wonder if people only build you up to bring you down:

hey guys. once again i think its time to address these rumors thats been going on about me. there are 3 main ones that has been floating around and i want to address them personally so you guys can know the truth

1.) i turned down a movie role for 3 million dollars because of a nude scene and i wasnt the person getting nude. nothing about that is true. i want to do my album. and my fans have waited so patiently for me to put out an album and i appreciate everyone of you and thats why im focused on putting out my first project. and yes i will continue to still do movies.

2.) all of the american idol stuff and burger king comments. i never said anything about if i was better at burger king i would not be there either. and yes i did say american idol was a stepping stone. which it is! i didnt mean it in a bad way. and as i said in my previous interviews american idol is a stepping stone because had it not been for them no one would of knew of a jennifer hudson to call to audition for dreamgirls! its like everything i say referring to the show gets twisted around and makes me look like im being arrogant and a “diva” since alot of people seems to have that opinion about me and that is not me at all. im not bothered by these rumors because im use to it but i do read the boards and i see my fans are upset by some of the negative rumors concerning me and that is what hurts me the most is to see people who care about me being impacted by all of this.

3.) the soul train awards show and me trying to sabotoge it by not showing up. only thing i can say to this is that i was there! and i appreciate being honored there just as much as i appreciated being honored at the all the award shows i attended. but once again im just writing this for my fans, supporters, and friends who want to know the truth. i am a person with feelings and although i have been warned that things like this would happen to me, and since i am new to this let me be the first to tell you that i have sat back not to long ago just like you guys and read things about my favorite artist and let me tell you since im experiencing this first hand you guys cant believe everything you read because its not true. o one more thing. im grateful for all my blessings and i thank God for it everyday and no amount of fame will ever go to my head and make me think that im better than anyone because we are all equal. and as quickly as God gave everything he has given me he can take it away!

Fox News is reporting that music superstar Whitney Houston is to start the recording of her new album today.

Houston is booked for sessions with renown writer/producer/artist Johnta Austin . Austin won a Grammy for co-writing Mariah Carey’s mega hit “We Belong Together.” His other credits include work for Mary J Blige and Janet Jackson. Hopefully he can work his magic on Whitney’s project too.

Clive Davis – Whitney’s longtime mentor/label boss- has already decided on about seven songs for Houston, including those by R. Kelly, Diane Warren and other big-name producers.

Norbit co-stars Eddie Murphy and Katt Williams will work together once again in the upcoming DreamWorks comedy “Marshals,” which follows the first black marshals of the Old West.

Williams will also write the script, while Murphy has signed on as a producer for the project.

Meanwhile, Williams – a regular on Nick Cannon’s Wild ‘N Out – has just finished the Chicago-filming of “The Pimp Chronicles Part 2,” a follow-up to his successful HBO special “The Pimp Chronicles.”

LeToya – Nothing For Me

This unreleased Toya track was produced by Mike City (Brandy, Jamie Foxx). I can see why this was left off her album; the beat is crazy but the track just isn’t anything special. Still worth a download though.{Link Removed As Requested}

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This one has been doing the rounds on the net for the last few days and has caused a small controversy. So many different opinions…I’m still kinda speechless. What do you think?!

*Link now working again*

Picture Credit: Just-Whitney.com

Whitney and Ray J were seen leaving a restaurant together in Beverley Hills on Wednesday. I did not believe the stories about these two being an item and I’m still not sure. Something sure is going on though. The video below shows Whitney blowing kisses to Ray J once they part to their individual cars and she can be heard telling him ‘that sh*t is off the chain’ LOL. This is the oddest couple in a long while; yes Ray J sucks but you can’t fault Whitney for getting hers.

Former Destiny’s Child member LeToya and Beyonce’s dad Matthew Knowles embraced each other publicly; apparently showing that there is no bad blood between them. Contrary to what some may think, I believe this display of unity at Russell Simmons Hip Hop Summit last week was genuine. LeToya has carved out a successful solo career and Papa Knowles has made Destiny’s Child and Beyonce into global superstars, so its all good.