Pop Icon Janet Jackson features on the cover of the latest issue of Gotham magazine. Though the shoot are outtakes from promotion portraits for her 2008 LP ‘Discipline’, the interview feature is new. Jackson, 43, talks the passing of her brother Michael, her upcoming album, new years resolutions and more. {Spotted over at our good friends over at Concrete Loop}

On what she’s taken from Michael’s death:

“When you hear people say life goes on, it’s really the truth. You can’t stop living. It becomes a part of you. I feel a bit selfish because there are times I feel I shouldn’t be doing this, but I enjoy my work and I have to keep doing it. I have to keep my life going. There are days that are harder than others.”

On her New Year’s resolutions:

“I want to learn a language. I haven’t decided which, but it’s between French, Spanish and Italian. I also want to get closer to God.”

On her new album:

“It’s going to be a little different. The writing is about life experiences. There’s a part of me that’s craving escapism, which is a sense of wanting to keep on moving with my work but also of coming to terms with reality. So I think it will be upbeat and light.”

On her new book:

“I hope it’s inspiring for all ages. I’m talking about weight loss, confidence, self-esteem—especially in your youth. It’s not an autobiography, but there are little anecdotes that I give here and there from my childhood all the way to the present that I thought would be interesting and helpful to share.”

On what she loves about New York:

“Everything. I love the energy–the creative energy. I’ve been here for 12 years and I will be here for the rest of my life.”

I really commend Janet for pressing on through everything. In being 100% honest with you though, and you know that’s how we like to keep it around here, I can’t say I was feeling the ‘it will be upbeat and light’ part. I mean, she said it’s going to be a little different, yet in it being ‘upbeat and light’, it’s sounding like it’ll be in the vein of much of her post-‘Velvet Rope’ releases.

Though I really enjoyed some of her less serious albums – ‘Damita Jo’ and ‘Discipline’ particularly, the public know all that she’s been through over the last few years (split from Jermaine, MJ’s death etc). Hence it’s hard to believe folk will readily swallow the idea of an ‘escapist’, not-addressing-the-drama LP from Ms. Jackson. That said, if the music is good, which I’m sure it will be, who knows, folk may just look past all that. Personally, though, I’d like to see a healthy balance of tackling the issues in ‘her world’ (especially as she’s writing again) and moving on (the escapism, living life aspect).

In any case, Ms. Jackson’s new LP – said to be released by Interscope – is pencilled in for a June release.

Your thoughts?

The legendary Mariah Carey and her husband Nick Cannon hit the red carpet the the Gold Globe Awards just moments ago. The icon displayed her amazing figure in this black gown while sheltered from the pouring rain by Cannon. Check out more pics below:

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We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming….

{So sad, I’ve always wanted to say that LOL}

Upon seeing the photos from the BET Honours 2010, I couldn’t help but feel really happy for a certain Whitney Houston. Unlike certain artists, who the media orchestrated comebacks for – despite them not being anywhere near capable (“oh baby, baby…”), Whitney continues to improve which each live showing. I mean, she really is earning all the success that her comeback campaign is experiencing; the undeniable force that is ‘The Voice’ is defying the critics with a return to top form – as evidenced in awesome performances such as the one above. Here’s hoping she continues her reascension.

Tidbit: if this seems like a shameless Whitney plug…it is LOL.

Your thoughts?

Some of you will remember Sabrina Washington as the face and most distinguishable voice of  UK trio ‘Misteeq’.

Despite having being hugely successful – racking up 7 consecutive UK top 10 singles and enjoying much International recognition, the group went their separate ways in 2005. With member Alesha Dixon going on to carve out a successful solo and television career, Washington is now too looking to make a dent on the charts with her new single ‘OMG’.

Lifted from her forthcoming LP, tentatively titled ‘Dirty Pop’, the song – a snippet of which you can listen to below – is a great embodiment of the album’s title. A delicious slice of Urban, Electro-Pop, ‘OMG’ positions Washington right in the thick of what’s hot on the music scene at present and certainly has us keen to hear what else she’ll be serving up. I imagine this one will be a fixture of the radio – and deservedly so. Welcome back, Ms. Washington.

Hit or Miss?

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Rihanna and her close, personal friend Matt Kemp were spotted in Los Angeles recently. The two attended the Cleveland Cavaliers /Los Angeles Clippers game at the Staples Centre. Check out more pics below:

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The 3rd Annual BET Honors were filmed last evening at the Warner Theatre in Washington D.C. The event commemorated the achievements of diva Whitney Houston, Hip-Hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, and rapper/actress Queen Latifah. Guests were treated to performances by Jennifer Hudson, who sang Houston’s ‘I Will Always Love You’ in tribute to the icon, Mary J. Blige, Maxwell and others. Check out more pictures below (courtesy of Rap-Up.com):

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Keri Hilson is back in the studio, working on her sophomore album, which she hopes to have in stores on May 31st (Memorial Day). The ‘Energy’ singer is currently creating tracks with Timbaland, Polow Da Don, Danjahandz, Kanye West and will.i.am, among others. Head of Urban music at Interscope, DJ Mormile, had his to say about the project:

“We’re just getting into this,” says Mormile, who hopes to have a first single out in March, if not sooner. “But we already have an idea of what we want to do. This album will continue the evolution of Keri, building off the hits ‘Knock You Down’ and ‘Turning Me On’, which helped define her. This new album will be ‘Turning You On’ times 10.”{Source}

It looks like Hilson isn’t playing any games this time around. Teaming up with almost all of the top producers in the game right now is definitely a good way to ensure that she has at least one hit. Nonetheless, as someone who has regarded by many as just a ‘collaboration act’, Hilson needs to make sure that her solo work is on fire this time around.  The music of 2010 is shaping up to be even better than 2009!

Thoughts?

Christina Aguilera has been busy filming her scenes for her new movie, ‘Burlesque’, lately. However, the powerhouse vocalist is said to be keeping her eyes on the prize with her next studio album, ‘Bionic’, which is now slated for an April release. The record, features an extensive list of collaborations from Sia Furler & Sam Dixon, Tricky Stewart, Claude Kelly, Santigold, M.I.A., John Hill & Dave Switch, Ladytron and Le Tigre. ‘Bionic’ showcases Aguilera singing everything from rap to dance to empowering ballads such as the Linda Perry production ‘Lift Me Up’. {Source}

If people weren’t eager to hear this album before, then I am certain that they are now. With such variation in the list of collaborators, it seems that she is heading more in the Urban direction that she did with ‘Stripped’ LP instead of the  one she did with the scream fest that was ‘Back 2 Basics’. Aguilera better come out the gate with a strong first single though, because rap and dance records will put her in direct competition with Pop music’s reigning champion, Lady GaGa.

Thoughts?

Despite being unable to crack the Billboard Hot 100 with her first single, ‘Louboutins’, from her upcoming ‘Love?’ LP, Jennifer Lopez remains on track to release the electro/dance album. Billboard.com indicates that the record features collaborations with Wynter Gordon, D’Mile, Danja and Mike Caren, who produced “drum-driven” ‘Everybody’s Girl’. As reported earlier, ‘Love?’ hits stores in April.

As much as I’m sure her fans want this album, there has been little to no buzz on the radio for the LP. If the performance of ‘Louboutins’ is any indication of what to expect, Lopez may very well be on track for the lowest sales of her career. As artists such as Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson, both of whom Lopez’s musical stylings have been compared, have been struggling maintain their relevancy on the charts, there is a lot of doubt to whether she can have a successful return. Here’s hoping that her next single at least enters the Hot 100.

Sidebar: Remember when I wrote this article and many people disagreed? Exactly.

Thoughts?

One of music’s biggest hit makers, The-Dream, has finally finished his new studio album. The singer/songwriter, who co-wrote Mariah Carey’s ‘Obsessed’ and Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies’, had the following to say about the LP, ‘Love King’:

“Love King is the best of the Three albums And Its FINISHED!” he tweeted. “Pre-Order and buy from a brand you can Trust! Radiokilla Records.” {Source}

This is some very exciting news! The-Dream’s last album, ‘Love vs. Money’, was one of the best of 2009 and demonstrated why he is indeed a musical prodigy. Songs like ‘Walking On The Moon (Ft. Kanye West)’ were shamelessly overlooked by the Grammy Awards in favour of much weaker material. Interestingly, although his material for other artists have gone down as some of the biggest hits of the last decade, he is yet to have a #1 song of his own. Hopefully he ‘gets his’ with this new album.

Thoughts?

R&B contralto Jazmine Sullivan is preparing to release her sophomore album. The Lauryn Hill-inspired singer has been in the studio with some of music’s biggest hit makers including Ne-Yo, Carlos ‘Los Da Mystro’ McKinney and Ryan Leslie. The untitled LP hits stores in Summer 2010. {Source}

Sullivan has one of those voices reminiscent of those once heard on ‘Showtime at the Apollo’ in the early 1990’s. If her new album is anything close to what she did on her debut, then I am sure that she will have a hit on her hands. I still can’t believe that she did not win the ‘Best New Artist’ at last year’s Grammy Award ceremony, especially after hearing her live vocal performances of ‘Need U Bad’. Shame shame shame.

Sidebar: I know I’m not the only one who got caught in singing ‘Bust Your Windows’ at the top of my lungs in the middle of traffic. Am I?

Thoughts?

Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Scherzinger is pushing ahead with her solo career. The songstress, who recently split from longtime boyfriend Lewis Hamilton, is reportedly focusing all of her energy from their breakup into her new music. Scherzinger is currently in the studio with Ne-Yo who had the following to say about their work together:

Nicole is in a state of liberation right now so the tracks are very free. She is in a place where she is happy to be alive and the tracks are definitely expressing that.

The whole album is going to be a pressure release – a great big exhale – and I’m happy about that. She has a lot of emotions after splitting up with Lewis. But it’s like taking an eagle and giving it back its wings. {Source}

It’s great to see that Nicole has found a way to express herself in her music. However, where does this leave the  rest of the Pussycat Dolls? It seems that everyone else in the group gets put on pause whenever she attempts to develop a solo venture. This really says something about the system that the group has in place where everything revolves around one singer. Furthermore, unlike Destiny’s Child, where Beyonce was undoubtedly the group’s front woman, the rest of the band generally lacks the support to have their own side projects and careers while Nicole is away. I would really like to hear what she has to say about these issues as, thus far, she has remained very quiet about them.

Thoughts?