As rising stars go, few are burning as bright as SZA.

And this week she’s gearing up to blaze rays of new music in the form of her debut album ‘CTRL.’

Arriving this Friday (via TDE/RCA), the hotly anticipated set has been earmarked as one of R&B’s most notable releases.

Hitting the promotional pavement in support of the project, the songstress stopped by The Breakfast Club on Power 105.1.

A fascinating insight into an exciting talent, SZA dished on her LP, the romantic experiences that form much of its subject matter, label drama, losing 200lbs, being a practising muslim, and much more.

Check out the full interview below. It’s a great watch.

‘CTRL’ hits stores June 9th.

Your thoughts?

The soulful sensation that is Sam Smith is on his way back to the world with a new album!

After moving close to 7.1 million units worldwide with ‘In the Lonely Hour’, the gifted vocalist now spends is day building new material for its follow-up.

Fortunately, he’s invited his fans along for the ride!

Studio snaps below…

Recording x

A post shared by Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) on Jun 6, 2017 at 10:09am PDT

Recording x

A post shared by Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) on Jun 6, 2017 at 10:07am PDT

Recording x

A post shared by Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) on Jun 6, 2017 at 10:08am PDT

Recording x

A post shared by Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) on Jun 6, 2017 at 10:08am PDT

Smith’s new album is yet to bag a due date and, should it drop before this year’s Grammy deadline, will be forced to go head to head with releases from the likes of Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry and Kendrick Lamar.

Are you looking forward to the album?

As Nicki Minaj’s fourth studio album glides closer to its release date the rapper continues to give the world good reason to anticipate it.

In an interview with her old friend DJ Whoo Kid, the entertainer revealed that the set will be classically Hip-Hop and how her fan base, The Kingdom, have inspired its stories.

She shared:

My fans are a different level of die-hard. I always feel like I gotta make them proud. I gotta go hard. I gotta impress them. They always waiting for me. That’s a blessing in itself.

I know it’s going to be my best body of work and I always love to be in real time, see my fans reacting to something. That’s what I’m looking forward to now. Obviously, I’m not telling them when my album is coming out, but I know that it’s gonna be amazing because I want to thank the people who’ve rocked with me for all of these years.

Are you looking forward to the album?

It’s finally time for Sevyn Streeter.

After years of delays, changes, and close calls, the singer’s debut album ‘Girl Disrupted’ at last has a release date.

A reflective Streeter hit Instagram with the news, which arrived alongside the LP’s official cover and a message for her supporters. Check out both above and below…

7•7•17 <G I R L D I S R U P T E D >

LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!! To all of my ride or die azz fans, I love & appreciate all of your support and patience, so it’s only right to give you the album on my bday?. The last year & a half has been an emotion rollercoaster for me. Lots of ups & downs, but I poured every ounce of it into my album! I’ve loved, lost & tried to LOVE again! I’ve been loyal to people who said fuq me & didn’t return the LOYALTY!

I’ve made the conscious choice to clear my life of anything that stood in the way of my LIBERATION and came out a better woman on the other side of it all! I’m freer than I’ve ever been! Happier than I’ve ever been! Wiser than I’ve ever been! Feel sexier than I’ve ever felt & give even less fuq’s than I ever thought I could??All of which I owe to this album!

If you’ve ever been thru some shii, going thru some shii or just need to hear some good shii….allow me to pay it forward on my birthday, 7•7•17…..LETS DISRUPT SOME SHII?? #GIRLDISRUPTED

Having followed her journey from the ‘I Like It’ days (four years ago), we’ve seen her rollercoaster twist and turn publicly – so one can only imagine what’s been happening behind the scenes.

Nonetheless, it’s great that ‘Girl’ finally has a release date. An actual release date! Roll-on July 7th.

Your thoughts?

#Sheerios rejoice! Ed Sheeran is the latest to buckle up for a ride on James Corden‘s wildly popular ‘Late Late Show’ segment ‘Carpool Karaoke.’

Shot as part of the #LateLateLondon edition, the duo cruised the streets and memory lane as they reflected on a number of the singer’s chart-topping hits.

Curious to see if your favorite of the redhead hitmaker’s was covered?  See below:

Your thoughts?

The Star Jones-produced daytime talk show spoof, ‘Daytime Divas,’ is off to a solid start we must say.

The series, loosely based on ABC’s ‘The View’ and toplined singer/actress Vanessa Williams and veteran TV actress Tichina Arnold, made its premiere on VH1 last night with numbers that helped assist the network win cable ratings overall.  Thanks, in part, to an impressive lead-in from the highly rated ‘Love & Hip Hop’ and ‘Basketball Wives’ franchises, ‘Divas’ fared well (especially for its 10p timeslot).

Curious to see just how many tuned in?  Tuck in below:

‘Daytime Divas’ Premiere Ratings = 1.28 million

–source

Your thoughts?

With just days separating Katy Perry‘s fans from her fifth studio album, ‘Witness,’ the singer’s promo charge can be expected to go into overdrive.  Her latest bid to build awareness of the project is the delivery of a behind the scenes look at the Migos-assisted ‘Bon Appetit,’ the second single from her forthcoming project.

Dishing on the themes and symbolism found throughout the visual, Perry continues to shove the song down music lovers’ throats  share the song with listeners worldwide with hopes of helping it exceed its current Billboard Hot 100 peak of #59.  Will this refreshed look refresh appetites for the tune?

Watch below and tell us:

On the upside, ‘Bon Appetit’ bests Katy Perry’s personal record for ‘most Youtube views in a 24 hour period.’  Upon its unveiling, the tune amassed nearly 17 million views.  Variety reports:

“Bon Appetit” generated 16.8 million views in the first day of release, topping her previous record-holder, “Roar.” The music video also surpassed two of Perry’s other milestones: the most channel views in a single calendar day, with more than 25 million views on May 13, and the highest number of playlist adds in a single day, at 84,000 on May 12.

Your thoughts?

‘Blow’ beauty Ke$ha suffered quite a blow to her ego last night when she was awkwardly denied a hug by famed comedian Jerry Seinfeld.   The actor/comic was on hand at last night’s “A Night of Laughter and Song” at the Kennedy Center, in Washington, D.C.

Working the red carpet, Seinfeld was interrupted in the middle of an interview by the chart-topping singer who asked him for a hug.  She was politely denied…repeatedly. As the video made its rounds, her fans – affectionately called #Animals – weren’t exactly pleased with the television star.  In fact, some even demanded he offer Ke$ha an apology while others hurled insults and threats…24 hours after the incident.

How do you feel?  Watch the video and weigh in:

(more…)

TLC reminisce on the good ole days in the video for ‘Way Back’ – the lead single from their self-titled final album (due June 30th).

The chilled clip is notable in that it’s the group’s first visual in over 14-years. It’s also the premiere “look” at how donations to their much-discussed Kickstarter campaign are being used to fund their last campaign.

We’d say so far so good.

Check out the Snoop Dogg assisted vid below and let us know if you agree…

TLC’s days of high-octane choreography and being ‘CrazySexyCool’ may be in rearview, but cute songs and visuals like this serve as a great dessert to the satisfying main course that was their 90s peak.

Sidenote: Loved the Left Eye salute. Did you spot it?

Your thoughts?

Who could forget ‘The Proud Family?’ Clearly no one.

The much-loved Disney animation series remains a nostalgic gem for many a millennial – as evidenced at The Roots Picnic.

Grammy-winning singer Solange, who recorded the show’s theme, gave an impromptu performance of the track during her set. And not only did fans go crazy – they joined in.

Watch the warming moment below…

Solange sung the Proud Family theme song at her show and the whole crowd sung along ?? pic.twitter.com/RIrb4NI1Eb

— I Luh God ✨ (@aVeryRichBitch_) June 5, 2017

Love it!

Ahh the nostalgia…

Your thoughts?

Cop a gander of Rita Ora!

The multi-media maven covers the latest issue of Notion magazine.

Simple, chic, and sweet, the shoot forms part of the push for the 25-year-old’s brand new single ‘Your Song.’

Unwrapped last month, the Ed Sheeran production is the first taste of Ora’s Atlantic Records debut and her first global album (previous releases were limited to Europe).

A strong streaming performer across the globe, the track is enjoying the most success in the UK.

Indeed, as at writing, the Official UK Charts Company have revealed that ‘Your Song’ is on-course to climb to #9 on their tally. A feat which, if achieved, will see the release become her ninth top 10 – five of which are #1’s.

With the video shoot set for this Thursday, big things look likely for the song as summer approaches.

In the meanwhile, peep more below…

Your thoughts?

Fifth Harmony are pairing their new look with an edgy new sound.

The popular quad are gearing up to release their third studio album and stopped by Hot 97 to chat about the project with Nessa.

During the candid sit-down, Normani, Dinah, Lauren, and Ally revealed that they have written over half of the as yet untiled set – a first for the group.

The ladies also confirmed that, like lead single ‘Down,’ the project will skew much more Urban and soulful that previous outings.

Check out the full interview below…

Your thoughts?