R&B songstress Alicia Keys hit the stage on ‘The Colbert Report’ last evening. The singer performed ‘Empire State Of Mind (Part 2)’ alongside the show’s host who chimed in with an original rap segment. Keys’ new album, ‘The Element Of Freedom’ hit stores yesterday, December 15th.

That was hilarious! Alicia remained completely focused on the performance while Colbert spit rhymes about how the suburban air was “good for his asthma.” I actually enjoy ‘Empire State Of Mind (Part 2)’ just as much as the original, although there is almost a 180 degree difference between the two. Very good indeed.

Thoughts?

UK singer Leona Lewis took the stage on ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’ last evening. The songbird performed ‘I Got You’, the second single from her new album, ‘Echo’. The LP has been a commercial disappointment in the US, selling just over 100, 000 copies.

As usual, Leona was vocally on point. She is an incredibly skilled vocalist, possibly  one of the best to emerge this decade. Nonetheless, there is nothing interesting about her performances other than her voice. Hopefully as her career progresses, she will improve.

Thoughts?

Ever ‘in-the-know’ as to what popping off with Kelly Rowland‘s project (“Sam, the man, the Kelly Rowland stan” lol), we’ve had knowledge of a new Nelly and Kelly’s collaboration for some time now. However, the pair finally lifted the lid on the until-now hush-hush song – their first collabo since their Grammy Award winning smash ‘Dilemma’ back in 2002. Said to be produced by Jim Jonsin and penned by Rico Love (who we interviewed last night…hold tight for that one!), the song, which you can hear in the video above, sounds H-O-T! As one of many who are overly amped for Kelly’s 3rd album, 2010 couldn’t come any sooner for me! Go Kelly!

Your thoughts?

R&B singer Omarion stopped by BET’s 106 & Park to perform current single ‘I Get It In’. It’s too early in the morning this side of the pond to say exactly what I want to say LOL…Oh Omari…

What do you think of the performance?

The Hits Daily Double final tally is in this week and it’s not good news for Chris Brown’s ‘Graffiti’ LP – or Rihanna’s ‘Rated R’. Brown’s ‘comeback’ effort is set to debut at #6 on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of just 102,489. Meanwhile, Def Jam’s Rihanna drops out of the top 20 entirely (#18-#28) after just 2 previous weeks on the chart. The Bajan model sold through 50,000 of her LP, bringing her total US sales to-date to an estimated 300,000.

Susan Boyle continues to dominate at #1, selling through another 582,724 copies of her ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ (hooray for her, but seriously, who is still buying this?!).

Debuts this week include Gucci Mane’s ‘State vs Radric Davis’, which landed at #11 with 89,166 copies sold, as well as Timbaland’s ‘Shock Value II’ with limps in at #36 with just 37,834 copies sold (ouch).

Other notable chartings this week include Lady GaGa, whose ‘The Fame Monster’ EP sits at comfortably at #16 (down from #15 last week), while her debut ‘The Fame’ holds strong at #7 with 102,108 copies sold (she’s on fire!). R. Kelly‘s ‘Untitled’ drops a hefty #4-#43 (a 71% dip from last week) with 34,111 copies sold.

Your thoughts?

Check out Jennifer Hudson’s ABC special, ‘Jennifer Hudson: I’ll Be Home For Christmas’, which aired yesterday. I’m watching, as I type. Enjoy!

Your thoughts?

Check out the video for Leona Lewis’ ‘I See You’, the theme to blockbuster movie ‘Avatar’. Not big on the song, but kudos to Leona for scoring such a big gig.

What do you think of the song / video?

According to our friends over at the uber reliable Mariah Daily Journal, Mariah Carey is set to release ‘Angel’s Cry’ (Remix) featuring label mate Ne-Yo as the first single from her ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’ remix LP. The song is set to go for adds on US radio on January 4th 2010.

Hmm…I’ll reserve judgement until hearing the actual song, however it goes without saying that there is a lot riding on this ‘remix’ (aka saving face) project – not least Mimi’s relevancy. Yes, she has a dedicated fan-base, yet as the sales-to-date of ‘Memoirs’ show, sometimes that just isn’t enough. Also worth mentioning, is the hilarity that is any suggestion that Mimi is beyond needing to sell anything or prove anything to anyone – which I’ve heard from a few. I’m afraid when you’re one of the world’s biggest stars and signed to a MAJOR label, you’re expected to bring in profit from your sales. Simple as. I strongly doubt Def Jam would be pumping money into her videos and promo, and not expect anything back. “C’mon son”! The industry doesn’t work like that.

Anyway, feeling I’ve slightly drifted off topic, I imagine this track will ‘surface’ any time from now. Mariah and Ne-Yo sure sounds like a great collaboration on paper. Here’s hoping it translates well on track.

Your thoughts?

In a recent interview with London’s Metro newspaper, 50 Cent cited his label Interscope as to the reason he lost his 2007 chart battle with Kanye West, with the G-Unit general hinting that he may be done with the label – where his career really took off. Check an an extract from the feature below:

After building a career on being bulletproof, Fiddy came unstuck when his 2007 album release face-off with Kanye West – when he claimed he’d give up the rap game if West outsold him – didn’t work out so well.

‘Def Jam did a better job positioning Kanye West at that point,’ he concedes. ‘The entire time I’ve been at Interscope Records, they’ve been relying on my creative energy [read: feuds with other rappers] to move discs.’

Just as well latest album Before I Self Destruct, plus a greatest-hits compilation, see his obligations to Interscope completed. ‘Almost in the nick of time,’ he muses. ‘I didn’t even go to a staff meeting and play this album for them because they’re more confused than any group of people I’ve interacted with, ever.’ {Source}

If 50 put even half of the energy he does in running his mouth on his music, he’d be in a much better position than he is now. As great a business-man as he seems to be, I do question his logic in going off at everyone and their mother (see: Ja Rule, Jay-Z and co). For, in him knowing this business, no artist stays at the top forever and all eventually experience ‘the decline’ (in interest, sales etc). It’s just the way it is. Now he’s fishing for excuses as to why, whether he likes it or not, he’s becoming an increasingly fading entity (in the music realm). Sigh…

Your thoughts?

{Images Removed As Requested} 

Having once again forgotten the whereabouts of her bra and dignity, Rihanna features on the cover of the latest issue of GQ magazine. Putting all jokes aside; though she looks great here, it’s quite clear that she’s really trying to push this ‘bad gyal/rebelious’ image, yet it comes off looking rather contrived – and quite sleazy (you’ll know what I mean when you peep the picture after the ‘read more’ link). Perhaps it’s this going overboard with the imaging that’s making for this Bajan model’s album to be plummeting down the charts.

In any case, I legitimately believe, once it’s realised ‘Rated R’ isn’t going the monster it was being hyped to be, Ms. Fenty will re-don the bob, find her clothes and start singing more edible Pop songs ala ‘Take A Bow’.

(more…)

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Alicia Keys continues along the promotional trail for her ‘Element of Freedom’ LP, taking to the stage on The David Letterman Show to perform current single ‘Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart’. As ever, Keys’ delivered a great performance. I really cannot get enough of this song at the moment. Love it!

‘The Element of Freedom’ hits stores today!

What do you think of the performance?