Despite only just being released digitally this week, Usher’s latest effort ‘Love In The Club’ has already hit #1 on the iTunes singles chart. As well as guaranteeing that the song makes a major impact on the Billboard Hot 100 next week, it serves as an indication to the level of anticipation for his upcoming album. I’ve always maintained that Usher wouldn’t be able to top his mega-selling ‘Confessions’ LP creatively or sales-wis;, however, with the way things are going, he may just prove the naysayers wrong.

Your thoughts?

After hitting the scene last year with her debut ‘Promise Ring’, 14 year old vocalist Tiffany Evans is back with her second single, the Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins produced ‘I’m Grown’. The video for the single, which features Bow Wow, premiered recently; I must say, I’m liking it. Yes, it’s simplistic and the concept has been done before, but I really respect the fact that she is being branded (songs/videos etc) in a age appropriate way that doesn’t alienate older listeners. With her self-titled album having been pushed back a few times, I’m anxious to see what this undeniable young talent will be serving up in 2008.

What do you think of the song / video?

Madonna - 4 Minutes To Save The World (ft. Timbaland & Justin Timberlake)As I’ve said before, it’s not often you see Madonna around these sides. Yet her foray into the world of Urban of music (again), this time with the assistance of Timbaland & Justin Timberlake, is newsworthy in itself. A clip of the first single to be lifted from her forthcoming album ‘Hard Candy’ (due April 29th) ‘4 Minutes To Save The World’, surfaced earlier this month, however the full version premiered on French radio today.
What can I say? She brought ‘it’ and then some! The production on the uptempo track is arguably Timbo’s best in years and both Madonna & Justin ride the beat with ease. I’m still thinking to myself as I type, can this really be a Madonna track?! The hook heavy track is certain to be a smash IMO.

 

Hit or Miss?

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You can now preview the self-titled debut from Day26, stars of Making The Band 4. This 6-track sampler serves to give give a taste of what the group’s LP (due March 25th) will be offering. Featured on the preview:

01. Diddy’s Intro
02. I’m The Reason
03. Got Me Going
04. In My Bed
05. Come In
06. Are We In This Together

Listening through this has kinda reignited my belief in the guys’ chances of success. The previously unheard ‘I’m The Reason’ as well as ‘In My Bed’ and ‘Are We In This Together’ are very solid cuts. The void left by the likes of 112 and Jagged Edge may just be filled by Day26.

Hit or Miss?

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Def Jam Drops Several DTP Artists?There is mounting speculation that Def Jam have dropped several artists over at Ludacris’ Disturbing The Peace (DTP) imprint – a subsidiary of Island Def Jam. Check out the report via our friends over at SOHH Ya Heard:

The industry is all a buzz about Disturbing the Peace records. Apparently there is a major shakeup happening as we read.

According to SEVERAL of my close Def Jam sources all hell is breaking loose on Ludacris DTP imprint. Apparently when the label brought all their R&B artists to perform at Spotlight for LA Reid, along with a bunch of industry heads in NYC earlier this week, the feedback was less then thrilling. The performances were SOHH lackluster that a source told me that LA told Luda that he can take his acts and “hit the road”.

As of right now Bobby Valentino, Shareefa, and the extremely talented Stephan Jones, AKA Mr. Ordinaray has all been dropped. Sources close to Bobby claim that the artist plans on dropping his next untitled CD on iTunes. No word yet on where Shareefa, and Steph Jones will end up.

Word on the streetz is that DTP heads are planning on severing ties with Def Jam over all the drama.

According to other sources, the artist releases are set to be made official next week. I can’t say much of this surprises me; none of the dropped artists’ recent offerings have made any impact. Saying that, one has to question whether the fault lies with the artists or the label themselves. The moral of the story? Don’t ever sign with a rapper’s own label! LOL. For real, name me one artist signed to a rapper’s label that has actually blown up. Exactly. Chingy, be afraid, be very afraid….

Your thoughts?

Danity Kane's 'Welcome To The Dollhouse' As the release of Danity Kane’s sophomore effort, ‘Welcome To The Dollhouse’, draws nearer (due March 18th), the official album sampler for the set has surfaced. The seven-track preview includes:

 

01. Intro
02. Damaged
03. Pretty Boy
04. Bad Girl
05. Striptease
06. Poetry
07. Outro
The ladies seem to be on to a winner with this album; I’m feeling every track on the sampler. As D. Woods stated in That Grape Juice’s interview with her (click here to read it, you’ll like it lol), the record seems very contemporary Pop/Dance/R&B sounding with mainstream appeal.

Hit or Miss?

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Pop superstar Janet Jackson continues her promo blitz for ‘Discipline’ – her 10th studio album, this time making an appearance on the Ellen Degeneres Show this morning. Check out the interview and performance of ‘Feedback’ after it:

As usual, she nailed the performance. I wasn’t so keen on the interview, though; I don’t understand why some interviewers insist on asking the same things over and over. Anyway, in other Janet news, the BET Access Granted for her new video ‘Rock With U’ will be airing next week Wednesday (March 5th).

What do you think of the interview / performance?

Mariah Carey kicked off her promo campaign this week in support of her new video ‘Touch My Body’ by appearing on MTV’s TRL. The 37 year old also discussed her eagerly anticipated new LP ‘E=MC²’ and her fragrance ‘M By Mariah Carey’.

Your thoughts?

LeToya UpdateLeToya stopped by Atlanta’s V103 radio station earlier this week before her performance in the stage show ‘Rumors’ at The Atlanta Civic Center. During the interview, the singer spoke about her much-anticipated sophomore album, which she claims will now be released ‘sometime before the end of 08’ (SMH), as well as giving an impromptu acapella of her 2006 smash ‘Torn’. I was real surprised about her vocals…she stepped up!

Any thoughts?

R&B star Ashanti stopped by BET’s 106 & Park to premiere her new video ‘The Way That I Love You’ earlier this week. In her interview with hosts Terrance J and Rosci, the singer spoke about her rumored beef with INC label mate Ja Rule. You can also see the finalized version of the song’s video in Part 2 of the interview below:

Any thoughts?

It has been announced that viva Whitney Houston will hit London to play a special concert on May 8th. Check out the report via Contact Music:

WHITNEY HOUSTON is set to make her live comeback in London on 8 May (08). Organisers of the Caudwell Children’s Legend Ball in Battersea have revealed they’ve booked the diva for a charity show. Charity founder John Caudwell tells Britain’s Marie Claire magazine, “We are thrilled to have an artist of Whitney’s calibre to headline the event.” The comeback concert isn’t a big surprise – Tina Turner came out of retirement to perform at the charity’s 2007 gala, which helped Caudwell raise over $2 million (GBP1 million) for disabled children. Houston is currently recording a new album with her mentor, music mogul Clive Davis, who claims the comeback project will be released in November (08).

Great news about the concert; it’s been a long while since Whitney hit the UK. An album release in November, though? How long has she been working on it for? Anyway, here’s hoping she brings her ‘A Game’, as I’ve always felt Whitney’s ‘comeback’ would be the most likely. As, unlike others, her appeal is solely with her voice and not reliant on any kind of sexy image. Any of the singles from her last successful release ‘My Love Is Your Love’ could be a hit today IMO. I guess time will tell.

2008 is really is shaping up the year of the divas – Janet, Mariah, Madonna, Whitney; a certain Ms. Knowles is set to release her third album in November too.

Your thoughts?

Keri Hilson - 'Get It Girl'Check out this new track from Keri Hilson called ‘Get It Girl’. Not to be confused as a song from Keri’ forthcoming album ‘In A Perfect World’, the cut is lifted from Timbaland’s first mobile album for Verizon Wireless subscribers. Despite pretty solid production on the part of Timbo and Keri’s great flow over it, I was left kinda underwhelmed by this. Let’s just say it’s more befitting to what it’s being used for (mobile album aka ‘not worthy of being a legit LP track’).

Hit or Miss?


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