When not posing it up on Instagram, Rihanna moonlights as a musician.

So, having smartly avoided a fourth quarter clash with Beyonce last year, the 25-year-old is pressing on with her new album.

Few details have been shared about the project, which follows 2012’s ‘Unapologetic’, however the star and her team have made no secret about the fact that it’s coming. A trend that continued today.

Posting on Instagram, Rih’s friend/assistant/handbag Melissa Forde shared the shot of her and the vocal terror in the studio with the hashtag “#studiolyfe”.

Clearly protecting her pipes, the performer is also snapped puffing on a cigarette – which should go some way towards explaining that “incredible” voice of hers. Mariah who?

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As questionable as Rih’s talent may be, we’d be lying if claimed that we aren’t interested in this project. For, having achieved a degree of success with a setup that saw her release an album a year over the last 7 years, the gap between LP’s 7 and 8 is the longest of Ms. Fenty’s career thus far.

Put simply, this will be the first legitimate “test” of her staying power; her ability to be a commercial force after an uncharacteristic spell away from the limelight. Can she show and prove? Let us know below…

Your thoughts?

Over the course of her illustrious career, Mary J. Blige has never strayed from unorthodox collaborations. Indeed, from U2, to George Michael, to Sting, the Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul has taken many musical risks – with most contributing to her status today as mainstream superstar.

That said, even That Grape Juice are surprised by the singer’s latest move.

Blige has teamed up with British EDM duo Disclosure, lending her vocals to their surprise new single ‘F For U’.

Set to arrive on Thursday, a preview of the track has been unwrapped so as to whet appetites. Take a listen below…

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Having warmed up the masses with buzz cut ‘Can’t Remember To Forget You’, Shakira is turning attention to the cut’s parent album.

Due March 25th, details surrounding the project have been scarce beyond the fact that the likes of Sia and Ne-Yo feature.

The silence ends now, though. For, the Latin superstar has revealed the title of the LP.

Find out what the follow-up to 2009’s ‘She Wolf’ has been christened after the jump…

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The “will they, won’t they” continues.

With the Grammy Awards merely days away, music lovers rejoiced at the top of the week when the show’s network CBS confirmed that Beyonce will be taking to the stage at the extravaganza.

Later that day, though, the confirmation commercial was suspiciously pulled and replaced with one that omitted King B and hubby Jay-Z.

Despite the confusion this caused, insiders maintain that the whole thing was a deliberate rouse designed to heighten the “surprise” factor come Sunday.

Now, Hits Daily Double report that the industry’s first couple will be performing their latest smash ‘Drunk In Love’.

Details after the jump…

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Could Usher be cooking up another ‘Confessions’ sized smash?

Who knows. But what is certain is that the singer has called on the man who helped craft the diamond selling LP, Jermaine Dupri.

Taking to Instagram, JD shared a snap of himself in the studio with the stage blazer – who was there for a writing camp for his new project.

Mr Raymond’s most recent album ‘Looking 4 Myself’ found so-so success upon release in 2012. With a new movie on the horizon and a return to The Voice nigh, the crooner has the right “setup” for a comeback. All he’s tasked with doing is pairing it with powerful material and he’ll be winning.

Your thoughts?

Your thoughts?

‘R.I.P.’ rapper Young Jeezy bids adieu R.I.P. to his freedom yet again after an altercation with Atlanta police saw him detained for ‘obstruction’…

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Singer/actress LeToya Luckett certainly knows how to hustle.

While working hard on her third studio album, the 32-year-old has maintained visibility by way of hosting and acting gigs – the latest being a star turn on VH1’s ‘Single Ladies’.

The Destiny’s Child original stopped by The Wendy Williams Show today to promote her role, new music, and more. Naturally, Wendy came through with the DC/Beyonce questions too.

Peep the fun-filled interview below… (more…)

Well, it appears that Queen of Pop Madonna, hasn’t exactly found a friend in Queen of All Media Wendy Williams. Indeed, the 49-year-old talk-show maven weighed in on Madge’s recent Instagram posting where she referred to her son Rocco as the “N-word” – a stunt that landed the Grammy winner in freshly poured hot water.

Granted, it’s a splash she’s often made her in storied 30 year career, but the controversy courted by this incident has given the ‘Hung Up’ hitmaker a backlash she probably wasn’t expecting.

Yesterday, Williams weighed in on Madonna’s comments, her relationship with her son, and so much more shortly after breaking down about her relationship with her own son.  The words that followed saw the controversial television host spew words like ‘old’, ‘wrinkled’, ‘stupid’, and ‘dumb’ toward the way of the 55-year-old pop icon.

Were they deserved?  You tell us below:

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Pop force Katy Perry continues her ‘Prism’ album campaign a-front of GQ magazine’s February issue.

The singer’s edgy shoot is sure to set pulses racing, as she spotlights her pin-up potential.

So what are you waiting for? Peep more of racy Katy after the jump…

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A decade.

It’s shocking to think a whole ten years have passed since Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake‘s ‘Super Bowl ’04’ showing changed the face of the music industry forever.

Even more surprising, though, is the fact that the split-second that came to be known as “nipplegate” would alter the course of Jackson’s otherwise iconic career, while bizarrely (and unfairly) enhancing Timberlake’s.

Indeed, while industry big wigs ensured the ‘Suit & Tie’ crooner star soared to dizzying heights, it was the Queen of Pop who was left to bear the brunt of the backlash, one that carried very real ramifications – both personally and commercially.

Beyond being branded all but a Jezebel by the media, the singer was blamed by many as the sole cause of the $550,000 fine the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) handed to Super Bowl broadcaster CBS –  figure that was a record at the time.

The FCC then increased the fine per indecency violation from $27,500 to $325,000 shortly after the event.

Adding salt to the controversial wound, the NFL announced that MTV (who produced the showing) would never be involved in another halftime show again.

However, in a major development ten years later, Michael Powell – who served as the FCC chairman at the time of the performance – admits that both his reaction and that of the masses were completely overblown.

Excerpts below…

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With the Super Bowl 2014 nigh, many the world over are reminiscing on the ten years that have passed since Janet Jackson‘s now-infamous “wardrobe malfunction” at the 2004 Half-Time show. Many including Nicki Minaj.

Random seeming perhaps, but the Rap royal is one of number of artists tapped by ESPN magazine to reveal their thoughts on the moment that both rocked and changed the industry.

The femcee’s words have yet to surface, but her customised cover alongside basketball star Koby Bryant has. Check it out above and peep another shot after the jump…

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