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Ne-Yo performed on the Jay Leno Show a couple of nights ago to promote his new album. He sang the album’s title track ‘Because of You’ with live instrumentation. I really enjoyed the performance; he’s a great live singer. The band were a nice touch too and enhanced the performance overall.

In more Ne-Yo news, his single ‘Because of You’ rockets from #39-#5 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, giving the singer his third top ten on the chart and his biggest hit since ‘So Sick’. Hits Daily are also reporting the singer’s latest album, also called ‘Because of You’, is on course to sell 250,000+ in its first week out- making it a likely contender for the #1 spot.

MTV News is reporting that rapper Chingy has squashed his beef with Ludacris and reunited with the Disturbing Tha Peace (DTP) family. The move comes as a surprise considering the reason the St Louis rapper left the group in late 2004 –alleged money/deception issues. Although it’s unknown whether Chingy will re-join DTP at Def Jam (he’s been signed with Capitol since his departure), he is definitely back in the fold.

I know R. Kelly has stated that his upcoming album ‘Double Up’ is 60% R&B and 40% Hip-Hop, but this cover is a joke. The man is 40 years old and looks like a fake thug. I’m getting the vibe that this is the direction the album is going in; I’ve heard the 2nd single ‘Blow It Up’ and it’s a mess. I know his music has always had some Hip-Hop influence, but this is coming across like a big gimmick. ‘Double-Up’ hits stores May 29th.

Ne-Yo: “Mariah’s Comeback Should Inspire Whitney”

R&B singer/songwriter Ne-Yo has described new songs by Whitney Houston that he has heard as ‘impressive’. However, Ne-Yo, who is currently writing songs for Houston’s album, wants to avoid creating songs that scream ‘I am Whitney Houston and this is my triumphant comeback. Instead, he suggests that Whitney takes inspiration from Mariah Carey’s comeback; not singing about her drama, but just everyday situations.

I think he kinda has a point; most of the albums that are too message-driven often fall flat e.g. Whitney’s last album ‘Just Whitney’. Let’s just hope his tracks for the album are good.

As you may have noticed, new tracks from Ne-Yo’s sophomore CD ‘Because of You’ have been leaking pretty quickly. Having now listened to the album in full, I can say that he has definitely managed to avoid the ‘sophomore slump’ by delivering a pretty solid album. After listening to the earlier leaked tracks and snippets, I felt that Ne-Yo hadn’t really pushed himself creatively and was just dishing out more of the same. However, the album has proven me wrong as there are quite a few great songs that aren’t typically his style. Though I’m unsure whether this tops his fantasitc debut, ‘Because of You’ (due May 1st) is definitely worth a buy. Check out some of my highlights from the album (which I haven’t posted already)…

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Lil Kim To Write About Prison Experience

Rapper Lil Kim is ready to break her silence on her prison experience. The pint-sized star has allegedly signed a book deal with St Martins Press and will write about her time in jail for perjury. Kim was convicted in 2005 and sentenced to one year in prison; she was released in August 2006. The book should hit shelves later next year.

This should be an interesting read, seeing as she hasn’t spoken of her time in jail since she came out last year. A book though? I’m waiting on that new album. Kim is at her best when she has something to talk about about other than just sex, as her critically-acclaimed ‘Naked Truth’ album showed.

New Ne-Yo Track – ‘Drugz’

Another track from Ne-Yo’s new album has hit the net. ‘Drugz’ is a nice mid-tempo that showcases Ne-Yo versatility as a writer. Check it out…

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Two new clips from Ne-Yo’s upcoming sophomore album have leaked. The first, ‘Do You’, is an ok sounding mid-tempo track; it wouldn’t make me want to run out and buy the album though. ‘Make It Work’ is much better; it’s a slow-jam that is sure to be one of the album’s standout tracks. A problem I have with most of the leaked clips/tracks so far is that Ne-Yo seems to have played it too safe this time around- no artistic growth or progression. Only time will tell if his new album, ‘Because of You’ (due May 1st), will be able to top his first.

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Ne-Yo – Because of You

As Mario dances toward ‘Glad You Came,’ his first studio album since 2018’s ‘Dancing Shadows,’ the R&B crooner is giving his dedicated fans a new reason to rush to digital shelves ahead of the project’s December 13 release by gifting its title track the single treatment.

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Gucci Mane‘s classic ‘I Think I Love Her‘ gets a 2024 facelift courtesy of Hip-Hop “it girl” Sexyy Red.

“Well, my name is Nene, but these n–gas call me Sexyy/ Finesse a n–ga out his real money if he let me / I turn these n–gas out, they let me trap out they house / I got some hoes from the 6 and whatever they say they ’bout,” raps the St. Louis beauty over Go Grizzly production.

Delivered 16 years after its original became a Gucci fan favorite, the Sexyy edition sees its arrival accompanied by a Suave Films-directed music video.

See the action inside.

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Mary J. Blige may still be riding high from being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday (October 19), but the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul is far from resting on her laurels.

A day ahead of the ceremony, Blige lifted the lid on new song ‘You Ain’t the Only One‘ – the latest taste of new music set to line her November 15-due new album ‘Gratitude.’

“You ever feel so low that all you feel is doubt? /You’re so lost you can’t find your way out? / You ain’t the only one / 
You ever feel like you just wanna give up? / Feel so tired, you don’t wanna get up / You ain’t the only one,” she sings over Aidan Brody production.

Following her induction, Blige lifted the lid on the cut’s inspirational music video directed by Eif Rivera.

One of many gems sure to make the setlist of her forthcoming ‘For My Fans Tour,’ hop inside to get acquainted with ‘One’ ahead of the tune getting the live treatment on stages across North America.

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2024 may be nearing its close, but – with his first new single of the year – Mario is still taking advantage of the time left.

Fresh from being announced as a supporting act on Queen of Hip Hop Soul Mary J. Blige‘s forthcoming ‘For My Fans‘ North American tour, the GRAMMY-nominated crooner has lifted the lid on his latest single ‘Space‘

“You got that look on your face / Like you still want to place / Come over to my place / Let you into my space,” he sings on the sizzling new track co-penned with James Fauntleroy.

Accompanying the song’s arrival with a Le3ay-directed music video, ‘Space’ comes as Mario’s first offering since 2023’s ‘Used to Me,’ ‘Main One,’ and ‘Like Her Too’ (as we reported here).

Ahead of finding out official news on all four tunes’ yet-announced parent album, look inside to get into the crooner’s latest.

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