‘This Is It’, a previously unreleased Michael Jackson track, which will be used to promote the late star’s Docu-Movie of the same name,was unveiled by Sony early this morning. The record, which was interestingly recorded back 1991 during the ‘Dangerous’ studio sessions, features his brothers on backing vocals.

About whether the track is any good; though, not bad at all, it expectedly sounds a little dated, and to be honest, kinda unfinished – which leaves me a lil salty as to why as was dug out of the vault in the first place. The chorus’ seem like its building towards a rapturous, choir-style peak (see: Michael’s ‘Cry’), yet turns out to be rather repetitive, without the best diction either. With Sony having confirmed that the song WILL NOT be available to buy by itself, only as part of the ‘This Is It’ soundtrack, this is all seeming a lil ‘kaching’ in my opinion. As much I’m interested in MJ’s older material, I’m much keener on hearing the material he’d been working on in his final years (‘Invincible’ sessions and to his passing). However, I’m guessing the label are keeping that tucked away, to make more money (for themselves and the MJ estate) at a later point. For as dodgy as this is, it further reinforces the reality that this is all a business. Just the way it is, I guess. Anyway, your thoughts…

Movie out October 28th

Soundtrack out October 26th

Hit or Miss?

Alexandra Burke gave the first live performance of her brand new single ‘Bad Boys’ moments ago on the first results show of this year’s X-Factor (which we will be reviewing shortly).

Put simply, Alexandra nailed it! I mean ‘ball out of the park’ nailed it! I was particularly impressed, as she sold me a song that I’m not really feeling with this performance. It’s important to note that, as a student of Mariah and la Janet’s live performances, I’m pretty cert Ms. Burke lip-synched the majority of the performance to a pre/re-recorded version of the track (with all the added breathing and other live-sounding effects). That said, knowing that she can sing like this live on any given day, I’m not too fussed at the utilisation of a pre-recorded track here. Watching this cemented the fact that she’ll be around for a long while…

What do you think of the performance?

Friend of That Grape Juice, the immensely talented Tiffany Evans, recently put up her own rendition of Beyonce’s smash ‘Halo’. Check it out above!

I’m being 100% real with you when I say that her version is on the same wavelength as Beyonce’s (IMO); amazing. To think Ms. Evans only just turned 17 in August makes her vocal capabilities all the more astounding. Awesome.

Your thoughts?

Check out the official album covers for the re-release of Lady GaGa’s debut, the double-disc ‘The Fame: Monster’ (due for release November 24th). I like – a lot.

The LP will be preceded by lead single ‘Bad Romance’, with the record itself featuring additional production credits from the likes of Fernando Garibay (Whitney’s ‘Nothing But Love’), Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins, and Interscope honcho Ron Fair.

What do you think of the covers?

The bleating billy-goat herself Rihanna is apparently prepping the release of her fourth studio album for release next month (with her new single reportedly set to debut any day now). Peep the vids above and below, which capture the Barbados-bred beauty doing a photoshoot for the album. While she pretty much looks a mess here (the whole ‘different’ image seems extra contrived here…she just looks silly), I’ve always said she should be a model. Posing and looking good really are her biggest talents, don’t you agree?

Do you think Rihanna’s next album will be a hit?

According to TMZ, things are going from bad to worse with Usher and soon-to-be ex-wife Tameka Foster, so bad that the singer called the police on Foster recently:

TMZ has learned Usher Raymond recently called the cops on his soon-to-be ex-wife — accusing her of sneaking onto his property and scratching up one of his cars.

Law enforcement sources tell us when officers arrived at the scene, Tameka Raymond was nowhere to be found.

Police later interviewed both Tameka and Usher — but determined there was no evidence or witnesses to substantiate Usher’s claim.

But the drama didn’t end there — law enforcement sources tell us Usher called the cops on Tameka a second time several days later, complaining that Tameka again got onto his property and wouldn’t leave. By the time cops arrived, Tameka had already split.

Usher filed for divorce back in June … but it hasn’t been finalized just yet.

Can you say d-r-a-m-a?!

Your thoughts?

{Content Removed As Requested}

Just got through watching T.I’s VH1 Behind The Music episode, which you can check out above. A great watch. I’m so glad they brought this show back.

Your thoughts?

Amelle, Heidi and Jade, also known – rightly or wrongly – as the Sugababes, unveiled the video for their new single ‘About a Girl’. The group, who have been at centre of much controversy as of late – almost entirely due to the ousting of original member Keisha Buchanan last month – hope to set the chart’s alight with this their new single. With a big budget (in UK terms) and a more sexed up image, the big question is: “does the video redeem them?”

In short, unfortunately, the answer is a no. Getting the good out of the way first; I’m definitely feeling the cinematic look of the clip, while the choreography was a great step forward for a group, who have really not been renown for that. However, I can’t help but feel this was a poor, rushed, badly edited clip. Clearly the stunt doubles were supposed to be reflective of the pre-Jade line-up, and though the ladies have since said the stunt company went ahead and shot their scenes while the drama was going on behind the scenes, there surely could have been more workable ways of using the footage. It really seems as if the label paid a hefty sum to the stunt company and come hell or high water were going to get their money’s worth – regardless of whether the vid seemed random as hell. I mean for someone not in the know of what’s happened, they’d  likely sit there wondering why in one shot we are seeing muscle-y chicks (ala WWF/E’s Chyna) and in the next, a random dance routine by the group who look nothing like them. For all the £££$$$ thrown at this, the aforementioned makes it come off cheap and tacky.

While I never wish any one bad, I can’t help but feel a little pessemistic about the group’s future. They needed to knock the ball out of the park with this video, which IMO had what’s left of their reputation on the line, and I don’t feel they did.

What do you think of the video?

With the UK’s top girl group spot looking rather vacant at the moment (see: Sugababes, Girls Aloud), fierce five-piece The Saturdays are making a beeline for the coveted position with their sophomore project ‘Wordshaker’. The group, who have racked up an impressive 6 top 10 singles in little under over a year, are looking to further cement their status with this their latest LP (which hits stores next Monday).

Having had a listen through our review copy of the album (which is actually pretty solid), it’s the title track of the record, which dare I say stands as one of the best cuts they’ve recorded to date. As with the best of their material, ‘Wordshaker’, manages to blend multiple genres (Rock, Urban etc) into the melting pot that is Pop, rather effortlessly, with a tasty end result. Loving this one; think a Rihanna-type track with actual good vocals (I know, amazing!)  Take a listen below:

Hit or Miss?

Continuing along the promotional trail for his new Docu-Movie ‘Good Hair’, Chris Rock stopped by The Tyra Banks Show yesterday to talk about the project. Actress Raven Symone, who features in the movie, also appeared on the show. Dually hilarious and insightful. A great watch.

Your thoughts?

Oscar and Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson has granted PEOPLE magazine the first exclusive snap of her newborn baby David. She also spoke to the magazine about how she’s coping with motherhood:

Motherhood definitely seems to agree with Jennifer Hudson, who gave birth to her first child, David – named after her fiancé, David Otunga – on Aug. 10.

“I love being nurturing and caring because I love to see other people happy,” says Hudson. “Who better to devote my time to than my own child?”

From singing lullabies (“He can be crying at the top of his lungs and just turn off like a switch”) to frequent bottle-feedings (“I’ve never seen a baby eat like he does!”), the singer (who chose not to address the tragic loss of her family members last October) offers PEOPLE an intimate look into her new life as a mom.

How hard was it keeping your pregnancy under wraps?

“David and I were the only people who knew for a long time. I would forget I was pregnant, it was so easy. I didn’t have any morning sickness, no cravings either. I just thought, ‘Oh, well, we’ll wait until it’ll tell on itself.’ I didn’t show until I was seven months so that made it easy right there.”

Your son was delivered via C-section, what was your recovery like?

“Everybody told me how much it was going to hurt afterwards but I think I have a different tolerance for pain than others. By that night after I had the baby, I’m like, ‘Look, I can’t sit in this bed anymore. I’ve got to get up!’ I’ve been up and about since he was born. To me, the pain is no different than when you work out a muscle you’ve never worked out before and it’s sore.”

Has his personality emerged yet?

“He has a lot of personality, like David. He’s always been a good sleeper. His favorite time to smile now is diaper changes. Or when he spits up on you – he just cracks up like he thinks it’s the funniest thing. And his bottle is his pacifier. With a pacifier, it’s like he knows, ‘Ain’t nothing come out of here. No, I don’t want that. Where’s the real deal?’ His best friend is that bottle; that’s all he wants.”

Once again, many congratulations to Jennifer and her fiance. It’s great to see her smiling again.

Your thoughts?

It seems Hip-Hop fans awaiting the release of Dr Dre’s serially delayed ‘Detox’ LP will have to wait a while longer:

While Dr. Dre had hoped to drop his long-awaited Detox album this year, the hip-hop icon recently revealed to ABCNews.com that he’s still cooking up the beats.

In an interview to promote his line of Monster headphones, the reporter casually asked Dre what upcoming projects he had. “Only my album that I’ve been working on for the last 10 years, that’s it, Detox record,” he laughed.

While he didn’t go into any specifics, Dre said, “Hopefully, I’ll get it done at the end of this year, and we can hear it next year.”

Asked what was causing the holdup of the album that would be his first solo effort since 1999’s 2001 album, Dre admitted, “motivation, other things getting in the way.” Detox was originally slated for release in 2004 but has been pushed back numerous times as Dre worked on music for affiliated artists including Eminem, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent and the Game, as well as Gwen Stefani and Mary J. Blige.

A snippet of music from the album debuted earlier this year during a commercial for Dr Pepper. Back in August 2008, 50 Cent told MTV News that he’d recorded some material for Detox with Dre and joked that they were so good “I want the records back.” At the time, even 50 didn’t know when the album might drop, but he was keeping hope alive.

“Hopefully, he’ll get it done and put it out,” 50 said. “I’m waiting for the Detox. All I can say is, Dr. Dre is the best producer in my eyes. Just the consistency over the years. … He knows what he wants. He’s such a perfectionist that it becomes difficult for him to put it out.” {Source}

Granted I know the last year or so has seen the acclaimed rapper/producer suffer a tragic loss in the family, I’m starting to wonder if after all this ‘perfecting’ folk will even still be checking for him like that. I mean, yes he is a Hip-Hop legend, but the industry is a very different place these days.

Your thoughts?