Is it petty or pure coincidence that Taylor Swift – a longtime opponent of having her music hosted on streaming services such as Spotify and Pandora (click here to read more on that) – officially announced today that all of her chart-topping hits will finally be available again on all major streaming platforms as of Friday at 12am ET?  Not only that, but Swift will also discount her top-sellers on iTunes.

Conveniently, both actions are set to occur at the exact same time her longtime rival – Katy Perry – is set to drop her new album, ‘Witness,’ to minimal buzz.

Details inside:

Billboard reports:

The pop star’s representative confirmed her full catalog will return to all streaming platforms Friday. Her official Instagram fan account, Taylor Nation, posted the news Thursday (June 8).

Swift’s five albums, including 1989, also will be available on Tidal, Amazon and other streaming platforms, her rep said in a statement.

The post referred to by Billboard specifically reads:

In celebration of 1989 selling over 10 Million Albums Worldwide and the RIAA’s 100 Million Song Certification announcement, Taylor wants to thank her fans by making her entire back catalog available to all streaming services tonight at midnight,” the statement said.

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You may recall Swift removed her music from Spotify around the release of her 2014 blockbuster album, ‘1989,’ and only allowed Apple Music to stream it.  The decision was reportedly based on poor royalty payments from the streaming giants.

Well, it appears the ‘We Are Never Getting Back Together’ hitmaker is getting back with all her old streaming friends…just in time for the release of Katy Perry’s new album, ‘Witness,’ which features the moderate hits ‘Chained to the Rhythm,’ ‘Bon Appetit,’ and ‘Swish Swish.’  This, just as the ‘Roar’ singer has been making mention of Swift more now than ever.

Click here to read her latest mention of the country-pop princess.

Your thoughts?

There’s no doubt about it…Kendu Isaacs played a major part in turning Mary J. Blige into Mary J. Blige.

Alas, by way of his alleged affair with the woman above, he now finds himself feuding with the singer after the world learned of their plans to separate.

Fortunately for him, said separation has proved to be very lucrative now that a judge has ordered Mary to pay him $30,000 a month in spousal support.

Isaacs asked a judge to grant him $129,319 a month from Mary’s pockets as her decision to divorce him meant he could no longer manage her and was unemployed.

Today, a judge has opted to give him $30,000 of that and added Blige was responsible for retroactive payments going back to September 2016 as well as is attorney fees which have risen to $235,000.

Your thoughts?

Katy Perry is unwilling to overlook Taylor Swift’s supposed attempt to take her down!

Hours removed from the release of her new album ‘Witness’, the ‘One of the Boys’ siren caught up with NME to promote the project and reveal that she understands how and why Swift used the song ‘Bad Blood‘ to bash her.

Her belief? Swift attempted to turn the young fan base they share against Perry.

No one has asked me about my side of the story, and there are three sides of every story: one, two, and the truth. I mean, I’m not Buddha — things irritate me. I wish that I could turn the other cheek every single time, but I’m also not a pushover, you know? Especially when someone tries to assassinate my character with little girls [her fans]. That’s so messed up!

On the part their mutual collaborator Max Martin played in it?

I can’t speak for [Max], but he didn’t know who ‘Bad Blood’ was about. I’m not supposed to tell him what he can and can’t do. I’m very fair; I’m super-duper fair and I’m not one of those people who’s like, ‘You can’t do that because I don’t like that person’. Just, like, you do you, make your own choices… I’m not his mother.

Your thoughts?

R&B icons TLC are marching on with momentum to the release of their final studio album.

The self-titled set arrives June 30th and is preceded by summer-soaked single ‘Way Back.’

In a bid to build buzz, the group’s surviving members T-Boz and Chilli took to the stage on The TODAY Show to perform the track.

True to form, the ladies were joined by a troop of dancers.

Watch ’em break it down below…

For us, it’s about managing expectations. Time waits for no one, as such it’s ill-advised to expect the dynamo showings of yesteryear.

When viewed this way, we definitely can appreciate what the ladies are serving up for their final hurrah.

Decent performance.

Click here to watch the video for ‘Way Back’ featuring Snoop Dogg.

Your thoughts?

Last week saw Britney Spears mocked after she suffered a wardrobe malfunction which threw fresh light on her love for lip syncing.

This week has brought with it the release of a demo proving that the star’s vocal issues weren’t always as they were.

For, 13 years after the release of its completed version, an autotune deficient version of her smash hit ‘Toxic‘ has surfaced online.

How the star’s comped vocals sound when stripped of studio magic?

Listen below…

Inspired by the vocal stylings of Mariah Carey and Toni Braxton in her formative years Britney‘s vocal issues began when she was forced to record and release which are impossible to sing live.

With this in mind, we’re glad that this version of ‘Toxic’ has “surfaced” and hope her future releases will bring it with songs that allow the icon to present her voice to the world as it should be.

Your thoughts?

It’s here!

Fifth Harmony have unveiled the video for their latest single ‘Down.’

The dancefloor jam, which features rapper Gucci Mane, is the first taste of the group’s upcoming third album – due later this year. It’s also the inaugural introduction to what the ladies have on offer as a newly re-molded four-piece.

Directed by James Larese, the clip finds the quad in sassy form at a hyper lit motel.

Check it out below…

Loving the vividness of the visual. The neon house style remains a favourite of ours.

As for the group, they delivered.

Sure, we’d have welcomed a narrative but Normani, Dinah, Lauren, and Ally compensated with ample helpings of sass and diva that are rich in replay value.

Your thoughts?

Michael B. Jordan and his collaborator Ryan Coogler continue to add thought-provoking projects to their brilliant filmography.

The name of their latest release? ‘Wrong Answer.’

The movie will tell the true story of a teacher who, in a bid to save the underprivileged school he taught in from being shuttered, joined a scam to ensure that its students received high grades.

The New Yorker adds:

At the end of the testing week, Lewis went back to the testing office with Crystal Draper, a language-arts teacher. For about an hour, they erased wrong answers and bubbled in the right ones. They exchanged no words. Lewis couldn’t even look at her. “I couldn’t believe what we’d been reduced to,” he said. He tried to stay focussed on the mechanics of the work: he took care to change, at most, one or two answers for every ten questions. “I had a minor in statistics, and it’s not that hard to figure out windows of probability,” he told me. Many students were on the cusp of passing, and he gave them a little nudge, so that they would pass by one or two points.

New Regency will fund the project and will join Coogler and Jordan to bring it to fruition following the end of the pair’s commitment to Marvel’s ‘Black Panther.‘

Your thoughts?

Chris Brown has shared the mic with many a notable name. However, one that has eluded him is music’s reigning queen – Beyonce.

Yet, if C. Breezy has his way that will change soon.

Speaking during the promotional run for his documentary film ‘Welcome To My Life,’ the 28-year-old says he’d want to collaborate with Bey (who he deems “the best female performer”) “for the culture.”

Peep the clip…

.@chrisbrown says Beyoncé would be his dream collaboration with a dance battle “for the culture” in new interview! ? pic.twitter.com/lBPGczaT6I

— THE BEYHIVÉ (@TheBeyHiveTeam) June 7, 2017

Some may scoff because the chances of this are quite literally slim to none, but – like him – we feel it would be epic…on paper.

More than this though, we’d much prefer Chris cook up a cohesive and meaningful era of his own and make a concerted effort to fulfil some of his (still) untapped potential.

Your thoughts?

[Photo credit: Getty]

Is Jay Z about to drop a new album?

It’s increasingly looking like the media mogul is on the cusp unveiling…something.

Earlier this week, rumors hit the mill about a Jigga reveal when mysterious ‘4:44’ image begun appearing on billboards and taxis across his home-state of New York.

Now, the biggest clue has arrived in the form of a star-studded commercial that aired moments ago during the NBA Finals.

The TV spot featured Oscar winners Mahershala Ali and Lupita N’yongo, as well as the legendary Danny Glover. Check it out…

4:44 ad during NBA finals pic.twitter.com/F5oIBgWTun

— mixed. (@beyonce_posts) June 8, 2017

While some may scream “conjecture,” note the TIDAL x Sprint branding at the end? As reported, the phone giant bought a sizeable percentage of the streaming service and have promised major roll-out’s imminently. A release from the man in charge would definitely fit that bill.

What’s more, timeline-wise, the debut of a new Mr Carter project would certainly make sense given the slew of summer festival dates he has on the horizon.

Are you amped for new music from Jigga?

Your thoughts?

Sometimes all you can say is damn (assuming you can even say anything).

That was our sentiment after Toya Wright popped ALL THE WAY OFF on Tamar Braxton on social media recently. Did you miss any of the action? It awaits below:

As fans of the Grammy-nominated Braxton know, she took to Instagram to apologize to Tiny for the recent demise of their friendship.  She didn’t waste any time throwing a few jabs at Toya in the process:

Ya know I’ve been thinking although I don’t feel like social media is the best place to work out personal issues…sometimes it can be the most effective way to get your love ones attention. I love you guys and Tiny, you…since I was 19 years old. I would have never dreamed that NONE of us would be in this position. Against public perceptions we know it’s NOT because of that show or lies that paperback Toya has said or anyone else who has had something to say about the disagreement you and I have had… because it’s simply OUR personal disagreement. I love you and all my God babies (all the kids) with all of my heart and you know this. I also love your husband @troubleman31 because he is my family also. How about we ALL sit down and talk and declare our new Love and mutual respect for each other and I’ll pay for and sing at your new vowel renewal ceremony. Life is too short and I’m ok with ignoring single, miserable hateful friends who WANT to see you and I at odds and instigating feuds with you and your husband. How about we all come together let it all go and bring you two who were the closest to me and two people who share so much love TOGETHER lean on each other to bring things back together again. who said it will be easy but Love and forgiveness is easier than being mad and full of hate. So with that all being said @majorgirl I’m sorry for my part in the hurt and want to have my best friend AND her family Including all of our kids and TIP all back together again…

And, while Tiny accepted the apology, Toya would hear none of it and offered a stinging clapback:

Paperback Toya?? Really Bitch??! What does your non-sincere apology and fake ass public outreach have to do with me?? You are THE fakest bitch I know. You wrote all of that pathetic, attention seeking bullshit but you conveniently forgot to tell them why ur REALLY mad?? Speak up l…tell em why you and your so-called best friend of 19 years fell out. Why didn’t you tell them how petty you really are? What type of bitch gets mad because a friend posts a birthday message about another friend?? I have your answer tho  — the same petty ass bitch that got mad At EVERYONE who went on the real talk show that she was FIRED from. I’m sick of you popping off on everybody and then playing victim with yo over the top under the table ass. You talk shit about your own sisters! U a disrespectful, disloyal, jealous attention fiend. Your desire to be front and center and have all the attention even spilled over into to the church! People trying hear the Lord’s word and you want the people to watch u work! Fake ass praise! Fuck You all days and all ways Tamar!
Love always,
Paperback Toya . My new book will be dropping in July! #ihavetimetoday #iapologizetomyfollowers #shekeepplayingwithme #sometimethenolahavetocomeout

Ouch! Was Toya Wright right to clap back so viciously?

Your thoughts?

Say what you will about Rihanna, but there’s no critiquing her charitable flair.

Earlier this year, the 29-year-old’s Clara Lionel Foundation and Global Citizen visited Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world.

Their aim?

To stress the necessity of strong education systems that ensure the world’s most impoverished children can enjoy a high quality education.

The visit was filmed and RiRi has shared online. Check it out…

Much respect to Ms. Fenty for using her platform for good.

Your thoughts?

Oprah Winfrey has revealed why her OWN network rejected the offer to pick up the series ‘Underground.’

Fans of the groundbreaking series will know that it was pulled off the air after its home network WGN  revealed it was moving away from scripted content.

Said fans had hoped the series would find another homes swiftly as they anticipated its next season.

Why Oprah decided to turn it down?

I can’t afford Underground. It cost twice as much to make as Queen Sugar. As a matter of fact, my dear friend John Legend called me personally and asked me about it, but we’d already been talking about how we could make it work […] it’s like $5 million an episode, so we can’t afford it. It’s not cheap, I think because it’s a period piece.

She revealed the above during a recent interview launched to promote the aforementioned ‘Sugar.’

Your thoughts?