After signalling her comeback with ‘She Bad Bad’, Eve serves up ‘Make It Out This Town’ – the first official single to be lifted from her new album ‘Lip Lock’.

The Gabe Saporta assisted cut saw its accompanying video unwrapped moments ago. Does the visual pack enough to boost the buzz for its parent album (due May 14th)? Judge for yourself after the jump…

(more…)

Though we loved its material (albeit a little one dimensional) the promotional plan employed to push Nicki Minaj‘s ‘Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded’ was in fact nothing short of an unorganized mess.

Ditching the structure and strategy that saw her debut album ‘Pink Friday’ score points on a commercial and critical front, the ‘white wash‘ look, mass release of ‘un-promoted’ singles, lack of televised performances and constant need to remind the world that she was ‘still Hip Hop’ saw her isolate the casual listener that had taken all of ‘Friday’s singles to Gold or Platinum status.

Of course, while this didn’t stop the album from being the highest selling Rap LP of the year, it was clear that the once glamorous and in tact Minaj was in desperate need of a branding overhaul if her third album was to do as well as her first.

Now, as to right the wrongs of yesteryear, the ‘Your Love’ MC is readying a campaign that may leave some of her naysayers no choice but to applaud her.

Full story below…

(more…)

Stop whatever you’re doing and check out the sneak peek for Nicki Minaj’s latest video, ‘High School’.

Unveiled online today before it airs in full via MTV on April 2nd, we’re sure you’ll agree with us when we say this already looks like one of the Rapper’s better visual releases.

Think we’re exaggerating?

Watch below…

(more…)

With Chris Brown set to premiere new music any moment now, the stage blazer has begun doing the media rounds in support of the set (tentatively titled ‘X’).

Presently working the Los Angeles circuit, the 23-year-old stopped by Power 106 FM and chatted it up with Big Boy about many a topic including Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, rival Drake, and battling depression.

Peep the interesting watch after the jump…

(more…)

Kendrick Lamar kept his buzz a’buzzing last night with a rousing performance of ‘Poetic Justice’ on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

The rapper is enjoying ample success both critically and commercially; indeed he recently topped MTV’s Hottest MC 2013 list, while his debut album ‘good kid, m.A.A.d city‘ has been certified Gold and will likely scan Platinum (sold and shipped) in the months ahead. Its present US sales stand at 808,000.

Watch K-Dot perform the Janet Jackson sampled song after the jump…

(more…)

American Idol, X Factor, The Voice, Sunday’s Best, Duets, Making the Band, Sing-Off, and Major & Minors are just a few of the recognizable titles of singing competitions that have graced (or disgraced) television over the past decade or so.

With its modern-day format pioneered by the FOX-aired ‘Idol’ to once record ratings (though ‘Live at the Apollo’ is the true grandfather of the genre), the last few years have seen a steadily declining interest in the singing competition themed reality show – despite reigniting interest in some of music’s top stars (see: Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, etc).

Until…NBC’s ‘The Voice’.  But, even with its winning ratings, it has yet to produce a quality star in three seasons:

(more…)

He’s the label executive Frank Ocean, Elijah Blake, Nas and Rick Ross all consider the driving force behind their recent successes.

However, despite his outstanding year as the head of the Def Jam music group, Joie Manda has resigned from his role as the label’s President and is now on his way to Jimmy Iovine’s Interscope Records.

Details below…

(more…)

As Season 4 of its main competitor ‘The Voice’ is posting some of its highest ratings ever, reality talent show pioneer ‘American Idol’ has conversely dipped to some of its lowest.

Indeed, with what was expected to be its saving grave in megadivas Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey, the twosome’s combined popularity was not enough to pull the sinking ship that is ‘Idol’.

Down a reported 14% from last week’s ratings (which was at the time its lowest Wednesday night ratings), the show has been on a steady decline since its season 12 debut.

Your thoughts?

Keri Hilson may not be working with Mike Will as erroneously suggested, but the singer-songwriter is clocking up studio time with none other than Babyface.

The ‘Pretty Girl Rock’ songstress has teamed up with the R&B legend for her third studio album, which is slated for release later this year.

On collaborating with the 53-year-old, who has penned hits for the likes of Toni Braxton and TLC, Hilson beamed “dreams come true” as she posted the snap above.

As two amazing writers, we’re salivating at the prospect of what Ms. Keri and Babyface has cooked up together.

Something like this would be super…

(more…)

There are many ways to “win” musically and it seems Justin Timberlake is set to achieve them all with new album ‘The 20/20 Experience’.

A chart blockbuster out of the gate, the ‘Suit & Tie’ led LP is set to extend its stay atop of the Billboard 200 next week and in the process will deny Lil Wayne‘s hotly anticipated ‘I Am Not A Human Being II’ the #1 spot.

Details below…

(more…)

Fantasia is ready for you to make room in your cd collections for her forthcoming gem ‘Side Effects Of You’ (April 23).

Indeed, the songstress has been hitting up many-a-city’s radio spots for promo of the album and it lead single ‘Lose To Win’.  The latest stop saw her bringing her sweet sounds to Tom Joyner’s Red Velvet Cake Studios.

Putting it down like only she can, get a taste of Fannie doing live renditions of fan favorite ‘When I See U’ and, of course, ‘Lose To Win’….

(more…)

As fans know, June 4th marks the day stageblazer Ciara‘s fifth album ‘One Woman Army’ marches onto record shelves.

With the stakes higher than ever, the songstress is in heavy promo for her Future-assisted, latest hit ‘Body Party’.  And, while fans are still grooving to the Mike Will-produced number, Cici has taken to radio to drop news on what other collaborators and songs can be expected on the forthcoming LP.

You may have already known about Nicki Minaj and Future’s contributions to the album, but tuck in below to see if your favorite song from ‘O.W.A.’ made the cut or ended up on the cutting room floor…

(more…)