The video for Cassie’s new single ‘Is It You?’ premiered yesterday. Taken from the soundtrack for the ‘Step Up 2’ movie (OST due February 5th), the song was produced by her mentor Ryan Leslie. Though the clip is pretty much standard-soundtrack video-fare, I’m really liking the song – I can’t even deny it. Is it me or has Cassie stepped up her vocal game (not that that’s saying much, but still)?

What do you think of the song / video?
Hudson Joins Perry's 'The Family That Preys' Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson has joined the cast of Tyler Perry’s forthcoming movie ‘The Family That Preys.’ The drama focuses on ‘two families from different sides of the tracks that become intimately involved in love and business.’ Perry is, both, writing and producing the movie, himself, for Lionsgate. Alfre Woodward, Sanaa Lathan, Rockmund Dunbar and Kathy Bates will also co-star.
‘Preys” will be Perry’s sixth for Lionsgate, following the last year’s box office hit ‘Why Did I Get Married?’ and ‘Meet the Browns.’ – due March. He’s expected to follow ‘Preys’ with ‘Madea Goes to Jail.’

Hudson has been working steadily since her ‘Dreamgirls’ breakthrough. She’s finished work on ‘Winged Creatures’ and the ‘Sex and the City’ movie and she was recently cast in a an adaptation of the novel .The Secret Life of Bees.’ {Source}


Your thoughts?

Trey Songz recently released a new remix video for his hit single ‘Can’t Help But Wait’ – featuring rapper Plies. The track will appear on the forthcoming ‘Step Up 2′ soundtrack.’ Video aside (it’s really not that great), I’m hoping Trey gets the recognition he deserves this year. The guy is overly talented, yet so slept on.

What do you think of the song / video?

Usher - 'Moving Mountains' (Snippet) With Usher hard at work on his forthcoming, as-yet-untitled, album, a snippet of new material has surfaced. It’s rumored ‘Moving Mountains’ was produced by man-of-the-moment Timbaland. In any case, the track has me real amped for Usher’s LP. The mid-tempo cut sounds like a mesh of Timbo’s ‘Apologize’ and your vintage Bryan Michael Cox piano-ballad. I’m surmising from this, that Usher has kinda taken the sound from the last album ‘Confessions’ and upped it to the next level.

Hit or Miss?

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Check out this video of R&B songstress Kelly Rowland performing her UK smash ‘Work’ (Freemasons Mix) – on BBC’s Sound show, here in the London. As a big fan of the original version of the track, I’ve also come to really like the Freemasons mix – which is set to climb into the top 3 on the Official single chart tomorrow. About the performance, Kelly did a great job…vocals, sass and all the rest. Good stuff.

Read our interview with Kelly yet? Click here, if you haven’t!

What do you think of the performance?

Though it seems Ciara has wrapped up the promotion for her most recent project ‘The Evolution’, she isn’t heading out of the limelight just yet. The ‘Goodies’ singer laid down new vocals for a remix to Janet’s ‘Feedback’, as well as Missy Elliott’s ‘Ching-A-Ling’.
Despite Janet not recording new vocals for this (possibly official) remix, Ciara has injected a new life into this already-storming track. Often likened to Janet, Ciara’s voice, delivery, everything fits the song really well. With all the comparisons and whatnot, would I be alone in thinking a live performance of this remix would be unmissable?
As with the ‘Feedback’ remix, it’s Ciara’s delivery that stands out on Missy’s ‘Ching-A-Ling’ remix – which also features Jay-Z. It’s well-known C’s vocal prowess leaves a lot to be desired, but her swagger on this can’t be denied IMO.
These kinda have me thirsty for what she’ll be serving up on her new album, which she is reportedly working on now.

Hit(s) or Miss(es)?

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Hit-maker Jermaine Dupri posted this new video of him working with superstar Mariah Carey at the singer’s in-house studio. Listen out around the middle for a very small snippet of a new track from Mariah’s ‘That Chick’ album rumored to be ‘Thanks For Nothing.’ Stephen Hill, the Senior VP of Music Programming and Talent at BET and Rachel McIntosh, Mariah’s choreographer (lol lol lol) also make an appearance in the vid. Tidbit: Is it me or was Mariah’s obsession with ‘the right lighting’ kinda annoying?

Your thoughts?

R&B star Ashanti strutted her stuff on the runway at Heart Truth’s Red Dress Collection fashion show in New York City yesterday. She’s looking on-point and, looking at the pics, she knows it too lol.

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What do you think of the pics?
Since winning MTV’s popular reality show ‘Making The Band 4’ last summer, the group- consistent of Mike, Quanell, Brian, Robert and Willie – have been without a collective name to go by. However, during an appearance on radio station Power 99 in Philadelphia yesterday, the guys revealed that the group’s official name is Day26. No explanation was given, so I’ll reserve my judgement until then.

What do you think of the name Day26?
It had been announced previously that fans should hit up Janet Jackson’s official website today at 1pm (US) / 6pm (UK) for a surprise of some sort. It turns out the ‘surprise’ was two new tracks from Janet’s highly anticipated ‘Discipline’ album – ‘Rock With U’ & ‘LUV’.The first, ‘Rock With U’ is a futuristic techno-esque cut. Fans of the Kylie Minogue sound, will eat this up, as will the European market. Perhaps the most surprising thing about the song is the fact that it’s produced by Jermaine Dupri. Very alternate to the sound we’ve come to expect from the hit-maker. Not the best Janet track, but satisfying, all the same.

‘WOW’ is the what came to mind after listening to the Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins produced ‘LUV’. I’m actually still playing it as I type. The beat goes HARD. The vocal arrangements are on-point too, with Janet’s harmonies complimenting the gritty production. My gut told me Darkchild’s involvement with the project would yield great results – case example, this and ‘Feedback’.

If these are indicative of the rest of the album, Ms Jackson is onto a winner.

Hit(s) or Miss(es)?

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Peep rapper Lil’ Kim arriving at the screening for ‘Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton’ in this aptly designed Marc Jacob outfit. If you place your hand over her head, the pic looks kinda good; but what the hell is going on with her face. She looks a complete different race. Kim, get it together!

What do you think of the pic?
Mariah's New Single Pushed Back Again As some of you know, Mariah Carey’s new single, the lead from her upcoming ‘That Chick’ album, has confirmed as ‘Touch My Body’. Originally set to debut last Tuesday, then bumped to this week and then the next, AllAccess.com is reporting that the track will now impact radio on February 19th – nearly three weeks from now. I’m assuming it’s all strategising on the part of the label; I mean, the album doesn’t drop until April.

Any thoughts?
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