Leona's 'Bleeding Love' Hits #1 On Hot 100 It would appear that Leona Lewis is, indeed, set for international stardom. The East Londoner’s hit single ‘Bleeding Love’ toppled Usher’s ‘Love In The Club’ to take the top spot on the US Hot 100 singles chart this week. Lewis has already broken records with the song, having spent seven straight weeks atop of the Official UK Singles Chart last year.
First Amy, then Estelle and now Leona; it seems folks in the the States are taking quite a liking to some of the UK’s finest offerings. ‘Bleeding Love’ is a great track, as is Leona a great vocalist, so I’m real happy at this achievement.

Any thoughts?

As reported, Mariah Carey performed at the season 3 premiere of MTV’s ‘The Hills’ earlier this week. Though not broadcast on the telecast, Mariah performed a previously unheard song from her forthcoming ‘E=MC²’ album called ‘That Chick’. I’ll give it to her, she did her thing on the breezy mid-tempo cut. Saying that, it hardly seemed that taxing (vocally) to perform.

What do you think of the performance?

Vivica Fox Talks Plastic Surgery & More
{Cover Credit: YBF}
Vivica Fox features in the April 2008 issue of Upscale magazine. The 43 year old actress discusses a number of issues including her love life, internet gossip sites and being misunderstood. Fox also addresses her much-talked about plastic surgery. Check out the extract below:

Will you ever address the rumors of plastic surgery?

I feel like I have already addressed that back in the day. I just hate that I admitted to it and people will say on the Internet that I don’t look the same, “Oh, she is so plastic surgeried.” I don’t look like some freak. I still look like Vivica Fox. Stop it with that! I am in a business where I get paid to look good, but I’m very proud to have African-American features. I have not changed my nose! Yeah, I have experimented with it, but no, I’m not doing any more of that plastic surgery crap. I’m not the first or the only one, but I’m the idiot that admitted to it. Now everyone says, “That is her whole look.” I take care of myself.

As much as I want to agree with her, I can’t. Yes, she doesn’t look all that different, but undergoing surgery IMO has taken away from her beauty rather than enhance it. I mean all them shots of her swollen face kinda makes it hard to even know what she actually looks like these days. SMH…

Your thoughts?
As Beyonce continues work on her as-yet-untitled third solo album, a new song, presumed to be from the set, has surfaced. ‘Beautiful Nightmare’ sees the singer delve into new musical territory – dabbling with a more Pop/Dance orientated sound in comparison to what we’re used to hearing from her. Granted it’s hardly a masterpiece, I’m liking this. After the mediocrisy that was the ‘B’ Day’ album, I’ve been hoping to see Beyonce experiment with differing sounds – so I’m definitely welcoming this new direction. {Thanks Benson!}

Hit or Miss?

LISTEN: Beautiful Nightmare {Link Removed}
Tyra Set To Leave 'America's Next Top Model'Word has it that Tyra Banks is set to leave America’s Next Top Model to concentrate on her popular talk show. Friction with the show’s co-host is being cited, by reports, as the reason for Banks’ rumored departure:

OK! magazine reports that Banks isn’t getting along with photo shoot creative director Jay Manuel, and her days on the show could be numbered. “It’s gotten so bad that Tyra and Jay aren’t speaking,” an insider told OK! magazine. The selective silent treatment isn’t limited to Manuel, either. “Tyra barely interacts with the contestants and only wants to show up on judging day,” the source told the magazine.

Though I don’t tend to catch much of the show, I more often than not hear that it’s now past its sell-by date. Perhaps Tyra knows this too.

Any thoughts?
Danity Kane's 'Dollhouse' Debuts At #1Danity Kane’s sophomore LP ‘Welcome To The Dollhouse’ has debuted atop of the Billboard 200 after selling an impressive 236,000 copies in its first week on sale. ‘Dollhouse’ first week numbers have bested that of the group’s self-titled 2006 debut.
In other chart news, rapper Rick Ross sits comfortably at #3, shifting another 90,000 copies of ‘Trilla’, while Flo Rida’s ‘Mail On Sunday’ debuts at #4 with 86, 000 sold. Lower down, Def Jam’s Rocko ‘Self-Made’ enters at #21, selling though 28, 000 records. {Source}

Your thoughts?
Janet Jackson - 'Feedback' (Remix) (ft. JD, Ciara, Fabolous & Busta Rhymes) Check out this newly christened Official remix of Janet’s ‘Feedback’. This version features verses from Jermaine Dupri, Busta Rhymes, Ciara and Fabolous. It’s nearing four months since the debut of the original and I still have it in heavy rotation. This remix is pretty solid too.

Hit or Miss?

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As some of you may know, R&B star Mario is currently a contestant on ‘Dancing With The Stars’. Check out his performance on this week’s episode of the show:

I’m feeling a lot more positive about Mario’s involvement with the show. He’s doing well, having scored the top score on last week’s show and 26/30 this week. I’m hopeful is that he goes far in the competition and is able to use it as a launch pad to bigger things for his music career. Can’t knock his hustle.

Your thoughts?

New Mariah Carey Promo Shot {Click pic to enlarge}
With Mariah Carey currently being everywhere at the minute, it kinda properly dawned on me that her much anticipated new album ‘E=MC²’ is just a few weeks away from release (April 15th). The above pic is the the latest promotional shot for the LP to surface. Granted she looks good and whatnot, I can’t help but think that the pose, Photoshop job etc has Mimi looking like a certain Miss Knowles (Hint: It’s not Solange)…just a thought.

What do you think of the pic?
This new Cassie track, ‘Thirsty’, is slated to feature on the singer’s (using the term loosely) forthcoming album. Light-hearted and easy-on-the-ear, the catchy cut is actually kinda good. Still, I admittedly greet anything related to Cassie with skepticism, as, for the life of me, I don’t understand how she ever got a record deal. Anyway, as it looks like she isn’t heading anywhere anytime soon…what do you think of the track…

Hit or Miss?

 

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Solange - 'God Given Name' As Solange Knowles preps the release of her sophomore effort ‘Soul Angel and the Hadley Street Dreams’ (due in August), another track from the set has surfaced. Titled ‘God Given Name’, the soulful jazz-inspired cut sees the youngest of the Knowles clan delve into more personal territory lyrically. With lines such as ‘I’m no sister…I’m just my God-Given name’, the song does provide an interesting listening experience. Saying that, I’m still undecided as to whether I’m sold on this ‘Solange the Soul Angel’ idea just yet. I guess time will tell. It’s also worth noting that Michelle Williams is also set to drop her album ‘Unexpected’ in August too…hmmm.

Hit or Miss?

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Day26 - 'Day26' ReviewAt one point the standard-bearer for R&B/Hip-Hop, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Bad Boy Empire has undeniably fallen on hard-times in recent in years. Following the departure of several of the label’s key acts, Bad Boy has been MIA on the charts for longer than their supporters and more so Combs would have liked. Enter Day26; a five-piece consisting of Willie, Qwanell, Robert, Mike and Brian. Formed on the popular MTV show, aptly titled ‘Making The Band’, the guys are part of Combs’ plan to stage a Bad Boy revival of sorts. With this their self-titled debut (out March 25th), Day26 show that there may be hope yet for Diddy’s once-sinking ship.

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