Mary J. Blige may be an industry veteran with accolades for days, but it doesn’t mean she’s not willing to work for her wins.

The Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul is treading the promo trail in support of new album ‘Strength Of A Woman’ and stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for a spirited performance.

MJB belted out ‘Love Yourself,’ which was produced by Kanye West (who also features on the studio version).

Given all she’s going through publicly (see: divorce), the selection was especially apt.

The showing comes on the same day the project’s sales forecast was revealed.

Per Hits Daily Double, ‘Strength’ is on course to open strong on the Billboard 200. Its sales-plus-streaming prediction is 67,000-72,000, while the pure sales estimate sits at 63-68k.

Beyond being within the right ballpark for a top 5 placing, it’s on course to best the US opening of her last LP ‘The London Sessions.’ A point notable given that industry sales have dipped even more in the time since that project was released (2015).

Can Mary climb higher? She has more promo on the way – including a VH1 doc that airs tonight – so it’s plausible.

Stay tuned.

Your thoughts?

As the ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta‘s fun loving leading lady, Porsha Williams has amassed a following which often keeps a close on the platforms she uses to communicate with it.

What they discovered today? That she is no longer following her former friend NeNe Leakes after the ‘Fashion Police‘ player tore into her during a recent appearance on ‘Watch What Happens Live’.

Leakes’ poorly-received appearance on the show saw her slammed on social media for taking aim at Williams and, if the latter’s Instagram account is anything to go by, lose a friend.

Leakes’, whose success at home and away from the ‘Housewives’ turned her into a household name, still follows Williams.

Do you think NeNe was wrong for bashing Porsha?

Foxy Brown was stunned and shamed by and with a chorus of boos recently when she arrived three hours late to her own concert in Philadelphia.

Signing up to perform at a Black gay Pride event, the New Yorker was scheduled to rock the house at 2am but arrived at 5 much to the horror of fans who had paid to catch her in live action.

What happened when she finally made her way to the stage?

Enraged, members of the audience attacked her with boos and chanted the name of her rival Remy Ma as she scurried out of the venue to seek refuge from their rage.

Foxy Brown get's BOO'D off stage in Philly #Pleasure2017 Dj starts playing Crush On You

— 2018 (@JackGabanna) April 29, 2017

Your thoughts?

Beyonce’s 2016 album ‘Lemonade’ was both a musical and pop cultural event.

Indeed, once poured into the world’s proverbial glass fans and critics alike could not get enough.

Now Queen Bey is giving the masses the chance to immortalise the project in a cool but costly new way.

Taking to social media, the 36-year-old unveiled the ‘Lemonade’ collectors edition.

For a towering $300, those who part with their cash will receive what has been christened  ‘The How To Make Lemonade’ package. Its description reads:

The How To Make Lemonade Box Set is a momentous tome and comprehensive look at Beyoncé’s LEMONADE journey. The How To Make Lemonade Box Set gives unprecedented insight into the making of multiple award-winning LEMONADE, with a numbered, collector’s edition coffee table book, double vinyl LP, and audio and visual album downloads.

The 600+ page hardcover book includes hundreds of never-before-seen photos from the making of LEMONADE, and shows the inspiration and themes behind some of the film’s most provocative and cryptic moments. The foreword is written by Dr. Michael Eric Dyson with poetry by Warsan Shire. Beyoncé’s personal writing and lyrics are interwoven throughout the book.

Peep the promotional video:

A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) on May 2, 2017 at 8:07am PDT

Issued as a limited edition release, only 2000 copies are being made available. Click here to buy.

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We love us some Bey, but this would need to come packed with the original ’Standing On The Sun,’ the ‘Put It In A Love Song’ vidya, the absent uptempos from self-titled, and other missing delicacies to make us even consider. But hey, with such fervent a fanbase, these will no doubt be snapped up with the swiftness.

All hail the queen.

Your thoughts?

Janet Jackson sent fans into overdrive last night when she officially announced the ‘State Of The World Tour.’

Now there’s more reason for excitement.

In a press release touting the trek (which is a continuation of the ‘Unbreakable Tour’), the singer’s team revealed that fresh material is near.

It read:

The STATE OF THE WORLD tour is a continuation of the Unbreakable tour and will include fan favorites from her chart-topping ‘Unbreakable’ album, an array of her socially conscious music she’s released throughout her career, and other smash hits and soon-to-be released new tracks with a state of the art live production!

If it wasn’t apparent before, it’s crystal clear now that it’s back to business on all fronts for the 50-year-old legend.

It would appear changes in her personal life (giving birth and recent split from her husband) have her driven to make a mark all over again.

‘Unbreakable’ was a strong reintroduction after years in hibernation; it also provided a solid framework for what a “Janet Jackson” album should sound like in the contemporary age.

That said, we’d love to see her continuing to experiment musically while catering to her core fans. We’d personally love to her open up on record about her recent hardships; we’d also love to see her skew more uptempo. Jams like ‘BURNITUP!,’ ‘Dammn Baby,’ and ‘Night’ were clear favorites on her last LP.

High-profile collaborations would be cute too.

In any case, we’re buzzed for new Janet. Are you?

Your thoughts?

Can Katy Perry catch a break?

New single ‘Bon Appétit’ is in free-fall on iTunes and her name is tangled in a tussle about an alleged racial slur.

Last night’s MET Gala seemed like an opportunity to forget her troubles, have some festive fun, and embrace her position as co-chair of this year’s spectacle.

As part of her involvement with the star-studded event, she also took to the stage to perform.

Joined by Migos, the Pop starlet offered a rendition of ‘Appétit’ – however it was far from appetising.

Stiffly shuffling across the stage, the whole performance fell pancake flat and actually had us a little embarrassed for her. Especially during her interaction (if it can be called that) with the Rap group…

It appears her contemporaries weren’t the most enthused either. Peep J.Lo and Madonna below…

Madonna’s face watching Katy perform. ? #MetGala pic.twitter.com/aOGgA3UzEh

— ️️ (@fkajack) May 2, 2017

We’re still stuck on what this was supposed to be…

Do better. Be better.

Your thoughts?

In numerology, seven is said to signal perfection and for Fifth Harmony star Normani Kordei that proved true last night.

Last night was week 7 of the current season of ‘Dancing With The Stars’ and saw the starlet earn 10s across the board for her take on the Argentine Tango.

In scoring full marks, Kordei and partner Val Chmerkovskiy won immunity for this week’s elimination and edge closer to the semi-final.

Deservingly.

Check out the show-stopping performance below…

Though initially skeptical about Normani’s participation in the show, she’s showing and proving. Crucially, she’s also growing in popularity each week. Thus upping her profile and that of her band in the process.

In some ways, it’s creating the right storm of momentum for 5H’s return.

A single come the climax of the show would be right on time.

Your thoughts?

Here’s your very first look at the brand new version of Disney‘s hit show ‘That’s So Raven‘!

Now named ‘Raven’s Home!‘, the show will kick off at the end of the year after being green lit by Disney last month and will welcome the arrival of the new faces posing in the on-set snap above!

• Raven-Symoné as Raven Baxter: Mother of twins Nia and Booker who has psychic abilities.
• Anneliese van der Pol as Chelsea Daniels: Raven’s best friend and mother of Levi.
• Navia Robinson as Nia: Raven’s 11-year old daughter and Booker’s twin sister, who exhibits the same psychic abilities as her mother.
• Isaac Brown as Booker: Raven’s 11-year old son and Nia’s twin brother.
• Jason Maybaum as Levi: Chelsea’s son.
• Sky Katz as Tess: Nia’s best friend.

Orlando Brown, who played Eddie, will not appear in the series as a result of his feud with Symone.

Click here to learn more.

Your thoughts?

Katy Perry fans are concerned that the Pop powers-that-be are out to destroy her career.

Inundated by a wave of negative stories centred around the star’s music and personality, this morning has seen them met by a firestorm ignited by her decision to sport a John Galliano dress to last night’s MET Gala.

Now, as they learn of unconfirmed reports surrounding a video which claims to capture her making problematic remarks, her fans have taken to social media to reveal that they believe that someone is out to destroy her.

Someone in Katy Perry’s team is really trying to sabotage her

— CHRISS (@cabellosfenty) April 26, 2017

Ooooooh little known fact. I spoke with a producer (who shall remain nameless) and Taylor Swift is trying to sabotage Katy Perry so haaard

— kevin (@rageandrovers) April 19, 2017

@Electrik_Blue @CallMeMano @mendesperry @katyperry Or he just wants to ruin Katy’s career like many other people nowadays

— ㅤ (@arianasmoonwalk) May 1, 2017

Wait who’s destroying Katy Perry career ?

— Beyoncé Music World (@iBeyonceMusic) May 1, 2017

Said fans are also slamming fans of Perry’s rivals Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift for celebrating her “downfall”.

@joe815 @EverMUA @TMZ @grigiobey Black face and slave master pff GaGa is so racist.

— Katy Fenty (@prismdevoted) May 1, 2017

@moIestmegaga @LChaves777 @LuxxSOClAL Gaga racist too she done blackface countless time. Call people niggers AND poses with blackface fans! pic.twitter.com/xO0HJtRoPA

— Zach (@simplefucks) May 1, 2017

@GagaSanFran @KingRampage23 @beyupdates_ @CallMeMano @katyperry Posing for picture with Katy means she said it? Then what does it mean when Gaga posed with people with blatant black face?

— ?lugh (@lugh_buchanan) May 1, 2017

Do you think Perry’s career is being sabotaged?

If so, by who and why?

 

Awesome!

Your thoughts?

Chris Brown has been a busy, busy man.  The Grammy-winning singer/songwriter, currently taking on the States with his ‘The Party Tour,’ is also prepping fans for the release of his 8th solo album.

With the working title, ‘Heartbreak on a Full Moon,’ the set has already been preceded by the critically acclaimed songs ‘Party,’ ‘Privacy,’ and ‘Grass Ain’t Greener.’  Now that fans have had a healthy taste of what the crooner is set to serve, he took to Twitter to unveil news that the trio of tunes don’t even touch the surface of the number of tracks on deck to line ‘Heartbreak’s official list.

Sending his beloved ‘Team Breezy’ into a frenzy, see the official announcement regarding the singer’s next set:

(more…)

Janet Jackson is back in business. The touring business.

After weeks of speculation, the Pop queen confirmed that she will return to the stage for the ‘State Of The World Tour.’

The trek, which kicks off in North America this Fall, will serve as the diva’s first major work endeavour since pausing the ‘Unbreakable World Tour’ last year to “plan a family.” She gave birth to son Eissa at age 50 this January, with news of her split from husband Wissam Al Mana following in March.

Mounted by Live Nation, the tour’s name is lifted from the ‘Rhythm Nation’ album track of the same name.

The jaunt, which launches September 7th, sees Jackson honor her promise of rescheduling all affected dates from her prior outing.

Tickets go on general sale this Friday (May 5th).

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We’re all sorts of ‘So Excited’! Sure, the start-stop of her tours in recent years hasn’t been a good look. But there’s no denying that Ms. Jackson puts on a captivating and high-octane show. Each and every time.

We’ll most definitely be going to the ‘State Of The World Tour.’ Will you?

Peep the full dates below…

Your thoughts?