R&B star Mary J. Blige is set to unleash her latest studio album ‘Stronger With Each Tear’ on December 21st. You can now preview the entire album via Amazon France {We’ll hold our full judgement until hearing the album its entirety…but the album sounds hot!}.

Click here to preview ‘Stronger With Each Tear’

Hit(s) or Miss(es)?

Check out these sneak peeks of Jennifer Hudson’s forthcoming Christmas Special ‘Jennifer Hudson: I’ll Be At Home For Christmas’, which will air on ABC on December 14th at 8pm. In the clip above, Jennifer and and co deliver a rousing rendition of ‘O Come Ol Ye Faithful’.

Your thoughts?

In a recent interview with MTV UK, rapper 50 Cent had many a critical word to say about the Grammy Awards.

When questioned about Beyonce and Taylor Swift receiving the most nominations, the G-Unit general said:

“Man, f*ck the Grammys!

I couldn’t care less about the Grammy Awards. It’ll be the Beyonce and Taylor Swift show.

I guess they’ll both be performing at the awards show, which means their record companies will be spending money to raise the production values of the entire show.

And when you spend that kind of money you’re supposed to get trophies.”

{Source: Susan Younis – MTV}

I’m trying to put aside the fact ol’ Curtis has been nominated 13 times at the Grammy’s, yet has never won, but I’m finding it oh-so- hard LOL. Besides him sounding a little bitter, if there’s one show in which nothing is a certain as to who wins or is even nominated, it’s the Grammy’s (just ask Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Jazmine Sullivan and many more). No sir…

Your thoughts?

Pop royalty Janet Jackson has been here in London this weekend for a number of shows. Peep her leaving Mr Chows restaurant in Knightsbridge, West London last night. Tidbit: That ‘hair’ is looking good!

Ms. Jackson poses it up in this shot with an 11 year old who had  flown over 200 miles to see her perform on the X-Factor. When the young girl also said she’s a major fan of Janet’s late, great brother Michael, the 43 year old shed a tear and thanked her. Awww!

The youngest of the Knowles clan, Solange, hit the town in Miami with singer Janelle Monae this past weekend. Not sure we’re feeling the get-up on ol’ Solo.

Actress Vivica Fox hit up Hollywood’s Millions of Milkshakes last night to mix her own celebrity milkshake. If ever there was a poster-child for reclaiming one’s looks after botched surgery, it would be Aunt Viv. After a rough patch, which saw her looking worse for wear more times than not, she has really bounced back this year. She looks great! {Spotted over at The YBF}

Rapper Nelly poses it up with his daughter, Chanell Haynes, and mother (below) at his 4th annual charity Black & White Ball in  St. Louis over the weekend.

International star Kelly Rowland works it out on the red carpet of a party she hosted at the Mur Mur Atlantic City yesterday. She looks great!

What do you think of the looks?

R&B artist Usher is preparing for the release of his highly anticipated album, tentatively entitled ‘Raymond vs. Raymond’. One of the tracks emerging from the ‘Papers’ singer’s recent studio sessions is the Danja-produced ‘Stay Down’. Usher’s LP is reportedly slated for a March 1st 2010 release after a slew of delays.

This is a great track for those fans who appreciate Usher’s dance-oriented material. Danja provided a tight play on the 80’s Pop melodies and combined it seamlessly with contemporary Urban beats. I expect Usher’s album to be framed around similar elements, especially given the direction that many of today’s artists such as Chris Brown, Lady GaGa and the Black Eyed Peas, have gone with their most recent material. Great stuff.

Hit or Miss?

Fresh off her electrifying performance on the X-Factor, superstar Janet Jackson raced down to the 02 Arena in London to perform her headlining set at the Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball. The icon, 43, gave a 30 minute set, which comprised performances of favourites such as ‘Rhythm Nation’, ‘All For You’ and ‘If’. Early reports say Ms. Jackson tore down the house…and judging by these pics it looks like she did just that!

Peep more pics after the jump…

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Rapper 50 Cent has been hard at working trying to promote his new album ‘Before I Self Destruct’, which has been suffering on the charts. The third single to be lifted off the LP is ‘Do You Think About Me’, with a video for the track debuting on December 8th at 8pm EST. The clip (a sneak peak of which can be seen above) features a cameo from his ‘associate’ Vivica A. Fox.

I personally have lost all of the little interest that I once had in this project. However, I am sure that many will find it interesting that 50 has reunited with Vivica after the two had such a heated conflict a few years back. Hopefully they brought some of that passion to the set while filming this video.

Thoughts?

Timbaland hosted an album release party for his new LP ‘Shock Value II’  at LIV nightclub at Fontainebleau Miami Beach this weekend.  The super producer (seen above with wife Monique) also performed ‘Meet in tha Middle’ with Brandy aka Bran’Nu and ‘Lose Control’ with Interscope Records’ newest act JoJo. Peep more pictures of the arrivals below:

R&B artist Brandy looked sexy in this black ensemble.

Young singer JoJo, who is featured on Timbo’s album, looked all grown up in this number.

Music legend Russell Simmons posed with Serena Williams and Brandy.

Hip-Hop rocker Travis McCoy also made an appearance.

Finally, we have rapper Fat Joe. New York!

What do you think of the looks?

Pop icon Janet Jackson took to the stage a few moments ago on the X-Factor, performing her 00’s classic ‘All For You’ as well as new single ‘Make Me’, which you can watch above!

This performance was everything….breakfast, lunch and dinner! Ms Jackson’s pre-recorded vocals are second to none in the industry (definitely a great crack at creating the illusion of sounding live! LOL). What’s more, she definitely served up a better performance of ‘Make Me’ than her American Music Awards showing last month. The ‘All For You’ dance-break was great to see again too. Great to have Ms. Jackson back!

What do you think of the performance?

The incomparable Lady GaGa performed her smash hit new single ‘Bad Romance’ a few minutes ago on the X-Factor.

Wow! While not vocally astounding, GaGa slayed with this performance! Serving up more of her trademark creative wackiness as well as pretty good vocals and choreography, this live showing will sure have her a sure cert for the #1 position on the UK singles chart next week.

What do you think of the performance?

Peep Mary J. Blige on the cover of the latest issue of Billboard magazine. Hmm, we think she’s had better front-page outings.

Mary’s new LP ‘Stronger With Each Tear’ hits stores December 21st.

What do you think of the cover?

Having listened through our preview copy of Timbaland‘s ‘Shock Value II’, I was kinda disappointed with the fact that it comes nowhere near the brilliance of the first – lending credence to the age old adage that ‘sequels never top the original’.

That said, the LP’s (hands-down) best cut is served up in the form of the JoJo-assisted ‘Lose Control’. Put simply, stellar production, great vocals, a catchy hook and a surprisingly workable mesh of the pair’s voices, make this one not only a winner, but an obvious choice for the record’s next single. It’d be criminal for this not to be given the release treatment.

Tidbit: Click here to check out E! News’ recent feature on JoJo in the studio. {Thanks George!}

Hit or Miss?