Cop a gander of Zayn Malik a-front of GQ!

The former One Direction staple is aiming to cement his solo status with his upcoming sophomore album, which features production from the likes of Timbaland.

And while the success of debut offering ‘Pillowtalk’ saw him shoehorned onto the path of a Pop pin-up ala Justin Timberlake, Malik explains that’s not the trajectory he wants.

His words below…

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SZA made headlines last month when she was pulled from TDE’s Championship Tour  due to illness and declared that “my voice is injured permanently.”

Concerned fans of the soulful songbird clamoured for updates and grew more worried as the silence intensified.

However, a positive development seems to have manifested.

Details below…

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Beyonce and Jay-Z broke the internet with the surprise release of their joint album ‘Everything Is Love’ on Saturday and now they’re shaking things up all over again.

For, after dropping the LP as a TIDAL exclusive, the pair have gone wide with the project – not just releasing it to iTunes (as has been customary with their recent efforts) but also on streaming giants Spotify and Apple Music.

Details below…

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Meghan Markle‘s father has revealed that he asked Prince Harry to make him one promise.

What it was?

Find out below….

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Ryan Murphy’s ‘American Horror Story‘ is full of surprises.

The latest? A brand new release date for its crossover season!

Full story below…

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In a developing story, it’s being reported that rapper XXXTentacion has been shot in Miami and his condition is serious.

Details below:

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Today’s From The Vault pick is an R&B classic.

This week we give you the harmony-heavy ‘If I Ever Fall In Love’ by Shai.

At a time where soulful ballads were the hottest of commodities, the male quad released their acapella debut to ample critical and commercial acclaim.

Indeed, ‘Love’ – helmed by Carl “Groove” Martin – spent eight consecutive weeks at #2, being held off the top position the entire time by Whitney Houston’s gargantuan hit  ‘I Will Always Love You’ in 1992.

[Though the song peaked at #36 in the UK, a cover version by boyband East 17 and soul singer Gabrielle was released a few years later and climbed to #2 – behind the Spice Girls’ ‘Say You’ll Be There.’ #JusticeForShai, right?!]

Equally understated, the track’s Ian Fletcher-directed visual saw the group avoid pomp and pageantry in favor of a more passionate, intimate and compelling moment. A move, which in turn, allowed their voices and harmonies take centre-stage.

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Reflecting on this track has us angling for a new breed of boyband vocalists to carry the baton for the modern era.

For, while today’s climate boasts Beyonce’s, Rihanna’s and Nicki’s as present-day equivalents to the Janet’s, Madonna’s and Lil’ Kim’s, the same can’t be said of the current crop of male groups.

So though we enjoy basking in the nostalgia of classics such as ‘If I Ever,’ we’re equally ready for male ensembles of the modern age to emerge and build on the foundations that the likes of Shai  and Boyz II Men laid oh so skilfully.

Sure times have changed, but it’s not everyday singer-rapper hybrids screaming “skr skr.”

As such, for us, a vocal group of guys in the “social media” era would be intriguing to see and the definition of refreshing.

Your thoughts?

Raven-Symone has welcomed the critically acclaimed vocalist Michelle Williams to the cast of ‘Raven’s Home‘, the new series that stands as the first ‘That’s So Raven’ spin-off!

Awesome news below…

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Kelly Rowland triumphed in more ways than one today on ‘The Voice Australia.’

The songbird, who is a coach on the hit series, won her second season on the platform when her contestant Sam Perry was voted to victory.

Perry, who has attracted controversy due to his use of electronic instruments and  elements, clearly struck the right chord with viewers who voted him to victory.

Ahead of the announcement, the pair took to the stage together to perform a spirited rendition of Michael Jackson‘s ‘They Don’t Care About Us.’

And while Ms. Kelly was guesting, she showed up and showed out – dancers and dancing and all.

Check it out below…

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Is Barack Obama coaching the next generation of Democratic stars he hopes will boot Donald Trump from power?

It seems so.

Full report below…

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One thing we can say for sure is that Kanye West is a man of his word.

As he promised, five albums were due from his hands (via his own work or acting as lead producer) and now, following Pusha T‘s ‘Daytona,’ his own ‘Ye,’ and ‘Kids See Ghosts’ (his joint album with Kid Cudi), West is seeing the fourth of the five projects roll out –  ‘Nasir’ by Nas.

After holding his private listening session in his hometown of New York City on Thursday night (b), the set – kept highly guarded and top secret until its official unveiling – follows the same formula of West’s most recently preceding productions by housing only 7 songs.

The follow up to Nas’ own 2012 chart-topper, ‘Life is Good,’ ‘Nasir’ may have seen its production handled exclusively by Kanye but it features a host of Hip Hop heavyweights as guests including the likes of Puff Daddy, 070 Shake, Tony Williams, and The Dream.  

Listen to the project in full inside:

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As Urban AC radio has welcomed her latest tune, ‘Leave It Smokin,’ with open arms (firing the cut straight into its top 10), R&B veteran Tamia is looking to see some of that love extended from the Hot 100.

Her latest bid for said notoriety comes courtesy of the long-awaited music video for ‘Smokin.’  Set in a sexy nightclub, the sultry 90’s-inspired jam is the first gem lifted from her forthcoming album, ‘Passion Like Fire’ (due in stores September 7).

Ahead of its parent album’s release, look inside for the accompanying visual for ‘Leave It Smokin’:

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