Former Sugababe Keisha Buchanan is keeping things moving since being controversially ousted from the group back in September. As well as working diligently on her solo album, she also features on fellow Brit Jay Sean‘s latest LP (‘All or Nothing’) on the track ‘Far Away’ (which surfaced today).

A laid-back cut, with a ‘knock’ and a great meshing together of Buchanan and Sean’s voices make this one a winner – something if I’m to be honest, I never thought I’d say about a Jay Sean track. Listening to this has definitely wet my appetite even more so  for more Keisha’s solo LP. Roll on 2010…

Hit or Miss?

The hotly anticipated video for 50 Cent’s ‘Baby By Me’, starring Kelly Rowland and Ne-Yo premièred literally minutes ago…literally. Directed by Chris Robinson, the clip sees the G-Unit general envision Ms. Kelly being ‘his’.

Our take on the video? It’s great! It features an engaging plot, looks like $$$ were spent on it (unlike some of today’s credit crunch clips) and Ms. Kelly looks stunning. What’s more, for as so-so as 50’s recent material has been, I’m really feeling this song, something its accompanying video will serve to intensify. Good stuff.

Tidbit: I can only imagine the rumours that will fly after this vid. Whether true or otherwise, as they say, any publicity is good publicity!

What do you think of the video?

While his collaborative effort with Keri Hilson, ‘Number One’, failed to escalate pass #68 on the Billboard Hot 100, another song from R&B crooner R. Kelly has surfaced. The track, ‘Echo’, will feature on his upcoming album ‘Untitled’ which hits stores on December 1st.

This song is the business! As an advocate of ‘grown and sexy’ R&B, I have been wondering when Robert was going to drop a track like this to make me feel that familiar tingle in my spine. Vocally, lyrically and melodically sound from start to finish, this song has the potential to be a major hit across all formats. Artists like The-Dream and Ne-Yo have captured a lot of Kelly’s fanbase over the last couple of years, but, judging by this, the captain has finally come back to reclaim his ship. *Round of applause*

Hit or Miss?

‘The wait is finally over’, according to Rihanna’s PR folk (although I’m a little confused though, as no one told me I was waiting on anything). In any case, Rihanna’s brand new single ‘Russian Roulette’, the first from new LP ‘Rated R’ (due November 23rd) made it’s worldwide premiere moments ago. As a sceptic of Rihanna’s artistry and longevity, I’d be lying if I said I went into listening to this expecting it to be any good.

Unfortunately, true-to-form, Ms. Fenty did not live up to her hype (which is surprisingly off-the-charts this time, for what reason I don’t know). The Ne-Yo penned track sounds as if it’s trying to sound ‘epic’, but falls kinda short. Ballads really aren’t her forte, so it baffles me why they didn’t go with something more her (i.e. uptempo, sing-songy).

In the interest of fairness, Ms. Fenty’s vocals, in parts, do sound better. Mind you, I’m not convinced we’ve heard the last of her sheep-bleating (I’ve still got many a prayer meeting to attend before that ever happens). That said, off the hype alone, I imagine this will do pretty well. Hell, I’ll probably be humming this one once the Def Jam promo machine is done (ever heard of the phrase: “eat sh*t enough times and you’ll begin to like the taste!”). Errr…welcome back Ms. Fenty…

Hit or Miss?

[Audio Removed As Requested]

Full album press release after the jump! (more…)

With the UK music industry still in shock over the departure of Keisha Buchanan from country’s biggest girl group, the Sugababes, new reports are suggesting the industry’s top hitmakers are lining up to work with the talented vocalist, particularly Ne-Yo:

Having been humiliated after she was forced out of the Sugababes, Keisha Buchanan may soon have the last laugh — R&B star Ne-Yo is desperate to work with her.

We can reveal that the US singer, 29, who has written hits for Beyoncé, Rihanna and Leona Lewis, contacted Keisha about working on material for her solo career.

Earlier this week, the 24-year-old singer, the last original member of the group, announced she had been forced to leave. Keisha has now been replaced by Eurovision runner-up Jade Ewen.A source told us: “Keisha has known Ne-Yo for a few years. They are close friends and have worked together on Sugababes material. So when he heard she had left the group he contacted her and told her he wants to work with her. Keisha is also good friends with Jermaine Riley from FDM, who is signed to Ne-Yo’s label. When he heard of the split he told her to call him as he had some big news.”

Mutya Buena, 24, an original Sugababe who left in 2005, has hinted she would like the founding line-up — which included Siobhan Donaghy — to reform. The source added: “Mutya is keen on the old line-up getting back together, but Keisha wants to try to make it solo and she thinks Ne-Yo is the perfect guy for the job.”

Speculation over the Sugababe split led to rumours that Keisha was bullying the other members, a claim she fiercely denies. Today Sugababe Amelle Berrabah, 25, said: “Problems started in the last few months, but it was a long time coming.”  {Source}

I’m definitely hoping this is true; ever since news broke that Keisha had been ousted, yet has a solo deal, I’ve been sizing up the prospects of her solo LP. While some may be sceptical of her chances as a solo artist, I must say I’m very optimistic. As well as her undeniable talent, Keisha has also done a great job over the years of networking with her industry peers, hence if handled correctly and given the opportunity to work with the best (which I’m sure her label Island wouldn’t say no to, particularly in the case of Ne-Yo), she could really be a force and, as the article suggests, have the last laugh. Definitely looking forward to this project…

Your thoughts?

Simon Cowell protégée Leona Lewis has decided on a title and release date for her new album. Echo, the follow-up to Lewis’ platinum-plus 2008 debut, Spirit, is due Nov. 17.

“An echo describes a big, organic sound,” Lewis says of her choice.

Lewis is recording in various cities, including New York and Los Angeles. Though one track called Don’t Let Me Down has

leaked online, neither the lineup of songs nor the list of contributors has been finalized. “I’m working with incredible songwriters and producers, and my music has really evolved,” Lewis says.

Ryan Tedder, who co-wrote and produced Lewis’ chart-topping breakthrough hit, Bleeding Love, is one confirmed collaborator, and a number of top artists have joined her in the studio, including Justin Timberlake, Ne-Yo and producer Timbaland. {Source}

There are doubts about whether Ne-Yo will be able to perform at his three remaining UK shows after he was taken ill and left the stage in tears during a gig in Manchester.

The R&B singer, who was performing at the MEN Arena in Manchester on Thursday, was crying after struggling to sing on stage for over half an hour.

He told fans he had never not completed a show before but couldn’t continue with his performance.

Ne-Yo is meant to be performing in Liverpool tonight ( Friday ) and in Newcastle and London over the weekend.

BBC Manchester presenter Karen Gabay was at the concert and said Ne-Yo looked like he had a “really bad fever”.

She says Ne-Yo started his gig 30 minutes late and announced that he wasn’t feeling well quite early on.

“Even after the second song, for a man who is normally so cool, he was sweating.

“He was doing a Michael Jackson tribute and you could see that he was actually struggling to finish every musical phrase. He kept asking the audience to bear with him.

“Then he actually was crying – I thought it was because he had done a couple of Michael Jackson tributes and he was getting a little bit overcome, but it did seem a bit strange – he was very emotional.

‘Floods of tears’

“Then he did a slow song, he was really struggling to move, he was absolutely pouring with sweat, and he went over to a table. He was actually hanging on for dear life and he looked as if he was about to drop then, he looked so ill.

“My friend also noticed that his songs had been shortened.”

Gabay says Ne-Yo then went off for a “very long break” before he came back on stage in “floods of tears”.

“He absolutely couldn’t hold tears back – the crowd were applauding him and he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

“Then he said he’d never had to do this before – he’d never not been able to finish a show – he said it though tears, it was unbelievable.

“He looked like he had a really bad fever.

“Then he went off stage crying.”

Although most of the crowd cheered, Gabay says some people booed.

“Then they announced the show wasn’t going to be cancelled, it was postponed – so in effect saying he will do the show again.” {Source}

The new Sugababes single ‘Get Sexy’, their first under their new deal with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, premiered yesterday. Produced by Red One, the vivacious uptempo sees the ‘Babes venture into new territory musical territory. Big, bold, and banging, the ladies have managed to serve up a fresh new sound, without deviating from their top 40 mainstay (evidenced by the many hooks which pervade this song). Listening to this definitely has me anticipating more new material from the ladies, who worked with Ne-Yo, Stargate, among others during their time in the US.

Hit or Miss?

Kelly Rowland is doing the promotional rounds here in Europe for her collaboration with David Guetta – ‘When Love Takes Over’. Their most recent stop being in Guetta’s native France on popular show Le Grand Journal last night, where they performed the single. Check it out above.

Loved it! Ms. Kelly really is taking it to the next level with the vocals, the confidence, the look (she looked stunning, right?)…everything. I’m itching now more so than ever for that 3rd album of hers.

In other Kelly news, ‘When Love Takes Over’ is way ahead of the pack in the mid-week chart over here in the UK, which means it’s pretty much a cert that it will be #1 come Sunday on the Official UK Singles Chart. Go Kelly!

Lastly, in a recent interview Kelly confirmed that she worked with Ne-Yo for the first time recently in a collaboration between herself, the ‘Closer’ singer, and David Guetta for the latter’s album. Fingers crossed they Kelly and Ne-Yo work together on her record; for, I think they’d conjure up something great. {Source}

Your thoughts?

With it being almost 3 years (yes 3 years!) since the release of LeToya’s debut album, it’s great to hear that things are finally coming together with her sophomore project. Now that her label Capital/EMI have ironed put their internal issues, it appears all systems are go for the release of Toya’s ‘Lady Love’ LP, which is tentatively scheduled for a March 24th release.

What’s more it has now ben confirmed that the set’s lead single, the Ne-Yo penned ‘Not Anymore’ will be impacting Rhythmic/Crossover radio in the US on February 3rd – meaning, in less complicated terms, we should be hearing it *very* soon LOL. In the meanwhile, you can listen to Ne-Yo’s demo version of the song, which is produced by Bei Maejor (Trey Songz, Mike Jones). I must say, I’m really feeling this one – especially the hook (“Stop, stop…”).

Click here to listen to Ne-Yo’s demo of ‘Not Anymore’