X-Factor runner-ups JLS released the video for their debut single ‘Beat Again’ today. I can’t say the group really showcased much of substance IMO on the show, something this tired song and video serve to reinforce. Cheese-fest much? Yawn.

The video for Kelly Rowland’s collaboration with David Guetta ‘When Love Takes Over’ premiered a few moments ago. As a big fan of the song, I was hopeful the vid would do it justice – which it most definitely did. Fun, light hearted, and uplifting, the clip really manages to capture the essence of the song. I must say too, Kelly looked stunning.

As Amerie readies the release of her Def Jam debut ‘In Love & War’ (due August), it has been revealed in a new Billboard article about the project that the label’s head LA Reid was about to drop her just last month! Check out the report below:

After a two-year hiatus, singer/songwriter Amerie has announced the release of her Def Jam debut, “In Love & War,” which will be available in August. The lead single, “Why R U,” will be serviced June 15th, with an accompanying video directed by Ray Kay (The-Dream, Lady Gaga) premiering June 8th on BET.

Producers on the album include Teddy Riley, Sean Garrett, Eric Hudson, Jim Jonsin, Rico Love and The Buchanans, who helmed the first single — the track that allegedly made Def Jam labelhead Antonio “L.A.” Reid reconsider dropping Amerie from the label just last month. So far, no collaborations have been announced.

“In Love & War” is the Washington DC-natives fourth album, and follows her Columbia records debut, “All I Have” and her Sony releases “Touch” and “Because I Love It,” which was released in Europe. “All I Have” sold 661,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, while “Touch” sold 406,000.

While I’m really salivating for new the new Amerie LP (despite feeling the single is a stinker), it’s a little worrying to know that her place at Def Jam isn’t as set as it was once thought. Sources initially indicated she was the label’s priority and the budget for her release was major, however now there are whispers that Reid nearly dropped Ms. Rogers due to creative differences; put simply he wanted a certain sound for the album and Amerie was doing something otherwise. As I’m sure Janet and co will be glad to tell you, doing what Mr Reid doesn’t approve of usually ends in disaster – and of course a flop album LOL. Here’s hoping all works out for Amerie.

Peep this new promotional shot for LeToya Luckett’s sophomore effort ‘Lady Love’. The snap comes from the shoot noted photographer Mike Ruiz’s recent photo-shoot with the singer.

In other LeToya news, the video for the album’s second single ‘She Ain’t Got…’ is was filmed recently. The clip was directed by Bryan Barber, who in addition to being behind Outkast’s ‘Hey Ya’ video, also directed LeToya’s ‘Not Anymore’ video. Be on the lookout for Major League Baseball players Orlando Hudson and Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers, as well as Baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, in the video when it debuts in the weeks ahead.

While on a short trip to the UK last week, R&B star Omarion revealed to BBC’s Ace and Vis  that he has signed a new deal with Lil’ Wayne’s Young Money / Cash Money imprint – the label home of Drake and Nicki Minaj. It had been reported in recent months that the former B2K star had signed with Timbaland’s Mosley Music Group, however this appears to dispel such notions. The 23 year old, who is currently hard at work on his third studio album, continues to be managed by Chris Stokes TUG company (…).

Hmm…while I think there is no better time than the present for Omarion to resurface and capitalize on the space left by Chris Brown, I can’t help but be a little sceptical about all these artist-led recording labels. I mean one need not look any further than 50 Cent and G-Unit where no one but him has achieved anything, not to mention the countless other artist-labels that mirror this. I guess time will tell if Omari can be the exception. Good luck to him.

* On a random, I’m really hoping Omarion nixes the nasal singing this go round…it’s not a good look.

An incomplete and low quality version of the video for the Black Eyed Peas latest single ‘I Gotta Feeling’ hit the net last week; however the final, high quality version of the clip surfaced today. Put simply, neither the song or the video rock my world in any way, shape or form. What’s more, it’s kinda funny how the vid is overtly trying to push Fergie’s sex appeal – because, correct me if wrong, but I’m pretty sure the masses don’t look at the ol’ Duchess like that.

Nonetheless, I’d imagine this will do pretty well off the back of the monster hit that is ‘Boom Boom Pow’. Speaking of which, the song continues to top charts all over the globe, and remains atop of the US Billboard Hot 100 after seven weeks of occupying the spot.

According to MTV, Mariah Carey’s forthcoming LP ‘Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel’ is set to hit shop shelves on September 16th. 

As with all Mariah releases, I’m sure a big promo campaign will accompany the album. However I’m hoping her vocal rest and room humidifiers have helped repair her voice, because otherwise, we’re in for more awful live performances.

Former Danity Kane member D.Woods this past weekend gave a rendition of the US National Anthem – The Star Spangled Banner- at the Cavaliers vs Magics basketball game in Cleveland, Ohio. Though not the best offering of the track I’ve heard (See: Whitney, Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce), D still did a pretty good job IMO.

Despite the drama that still surrounds Chris Brown, the 20 year old star insists his forthcoming album will be his biggest yet:

Though the case against Chris Brown for the alleged assault on Rihanna earlier this year continues to play out in Los Angeles courtrooms, a friend of Brown’s says the singer is doing his best to move forward and concentrate on work.

“Chris is focused,” says songwriter Robert Allen, who is working with Brown on his upcoming album, tentatively titled Graffiti. “He knows how to deal with whatever is going on and is willing to do what he has to do to please his fans.”

To do that, Brown plans to bring a different vibe to his music. “It’s not particularly just R&B,” says Allen, who has worked on songs with Brown in Los Angeles, New York, and Miami. “Chris is trying different things and experimenting. We’ve been making things really eclectic. The direction of this album is really fun and free spirited. It’s like a collage.”

Brown, who had been keeping a low profile for about three months, recently broke his silence in a YouTube.com video, in which he declared, “I ain’t a monster.”

“You want to go away so your audience can miss you some,” Allen says of why Brown has laid low. “But he’s so happy and ready for this next album to break through and make a big impact. He wants this to be his masterpiece. He’s predicting this will be his biggest album.” {Source}

I must say, I’m real surprised he’s pressing ahead with a new release so soon. Yes, the industry is fickle but not that fickle. The magnitude of what Chris is actually embroiled in doesn’t quite seem like it’s settled in the minds of Chris or whichever label honcho is actually gonna allow a release during or very near to legal proceedings against him.

Coincidence or what? As I’m literally about to hit ‘publish post’ on our interview with Ciara, I receive an email from the the UK arm of her label asking if we want to interview Ms. Harris this Friday – in person here in London. With the last interview, we crammed in as many of your questions as possible considering the allocated time; however it would be silly to pass up on the chance to speak with her again about more. 

So with that said, we’ll hold back the original interview in the meanwhile and hit you with the re-buffered version. Thanks for being so patient.

Any more questions for Ciara? Drop them in the comments section below…

Rapper Eminem, who performed at last night’s MTV Movie Awards 2009 in California, was the talk of the night for much more than his performances of ‘We Made You’ and ‘Crack A Bottle’. During the show, funnyman Sacha Baron Cohen (Ali G, Borat etc) descended from the arena ceiling as his gay character Bruno, landing on the Detroit star and giving him a face full of his…erm…a**. Lord knows if Eminem was in on the whole thing, but he sure looked P’ed off at the end. LOL.

Speculation has been rife for months that Grammy and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson is expecting her first child with fiance David Otunga. Well new reports are claiming that Hudson is indeed with child:

A weekend baby shower in downtown Chicago confirmed what has long been rumored: Jennifer Hudson is pregnant.

“It was a baby shower, a quiet gathering of friends and mostly family,” singer/actress Felicia Fields, a longtime Hudson friend, said of Saturday’s get-together in a relative’s home. “They’re really trying to keep it kind of quiet.”

South Side native Hudson, the 27-year-old singing star who won the 2006 best supporting actress Oscar for “Dreamgirls,” is engaged to former reality TV star David Otunga, who’s currently pursuing a pro wrestling career. Hudson has said she no longer would live in Chicago after her mother, Darnell Donerson, brother Jason and nephew Julian King were found murdered in October, with William Balfour, the estranged husband of Jennifer’s sister Julia, charged with the crimes.

Hudson recently finished a co-headlining concert tour with singer Robin Thicke, with an April 25 show at the Arie Crown Theatre. Her manager and publicist previously denied that she is pregnant.

“It was a nice time that we had,” Fields said of the shower. She didn’t want to get into when the baby is due, but speculation is that Hudson is many months along—an impression bolstered by her appearance of late.

As for whether Hudson received blue or pink gifts, Fields said, “They don’t know [the gender]. More yellow.” {Source}

It kinda goes without saying, but many congratulations to Jennifer and David – most especially after the difficult year she’s had.

Randomness: I find it hilarious that the friend says ‘they’re really trying to keep it quiet’, while blabbing to the press LOL LOL.