According to the most recent edition of Billboard Magazine, Mariah Carey’s still untitled new album will not be released ‘first quarter’ of this year as previously announced; the set will instead drop second quarter of 08 (anytime from April onwards). The album was initially meant to hit stores late last year, however was pushed back. {Source}

I’m starting to think this Mariah / Janet dropping at the same time scenario (as Jermaine Dupri proposed) isn’t likely to happen and I think it makes sense. You can’t have artist of that magnitude releasing records at the same time – one will end up looking lesser than the other.

In a recent interview with Star News Online, R&B singer Mya confirmed that she is to leave her label Universal Motown this year:

Q: Are you planning on leaving your record label?

A: Yes. I’ll be leaving Motown Universal some time next year.

Q: Do you plan on signing with another label?

A: I don’t really want to sign to another label. If you end up funding most of your projects, why not distribute your own product and make 100 percent of your profits?

This hardly comes as a surprise after the shambolic partnership she and the label have had to date; her one and only album for them ‘Liberation’ was shelved after a series of delays that spanned a year and a half. The independent route may work out for her; it’s been a success for the likes of Tamia and co. So Mya may just have a chance.

In a rare chart occurrence, Mary J. Blige has seen her ‘Growing Pains’ album rise to #1 on the Billboard 200 this week, following it’s debut at #2. The LP, Blige’s eighth, shifted 204,000 copies – a drop of 68% on her previous week numbers – to clinch the year’s first #1 toppling Josh Groban’s ‘Noel’ in the precess (which slid from #1-#3).

Alicia Keys looks set to extend her amazing chart success into 2008, with her album ‘As I Am’ selling through an impressive 193,000 copies – enough to enable her jump from #3-#2 this week.

After a, somewhat, shaky start with his ‘Exclusive’ project (see: ‘Wall to Wall’), there seems to be no stopping Chris Brown’s sophomore set. The already-certified Platinum LP from the 18 year old climbs from #10-#5 with 87, 000 copies sold.

Troubled rapper DMX is prepping the release of two new albums this year – including a gospel CD. Speaking to MTV, here’s what he had to say of the project:

“I [was] the first n—a to put out two albums in one year, now I’m gonna hit ‘em again — drop two albums on the same f—in’ day, yo,” X said from his home in Arizona on Friday. “A double album will make mutha—-as mad, because they gotta spend more money — plus it’s already a long album. I’m talking about a hip-hop album and a gospel album.”

Combined, the project will be called ‘Walk With Me Now’ and ‘You’ll Fly With Me Later’.

Lord knows he needs Jesus because he has become a bonafide mess in the past few years. Somehow, him dropping F-bombs while talking up his gospel project seems kinda off.

R&B singer has begun legal action against the promoter of the R. Kelly ‘Double Up’ tour following his much-publicized axing from the bill. Check out the report below via Singer’s Room:

Ne-Yo sued the promoter of the R. Kelly Double Up tour for firing him after two shows as the opening act, claiming that the audience and the critics liked him better, according to court papers obtained on Wednesday.

Ne-Yo, whose real name is Shaffer Smith, and Compound Touring Inc. filed the suit Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court against Georgia-based Rowe Entertainment Inc., alleging breach of contract and violation of the right of publicity.

Compound Touring and Smith are seeking unspecified damages, but the suit maintains he was to be paid $785,000 for 25 shows opening for Kelly’s “Double-Up Tour” that began Nov. 14 and is still owed $735,000.

Smith was allowed to perform during the Nov. 14 and 15 tour dates, then was fired prior to the scheduled Nov. 19 show, according to the suit.

It was obvious this was the route things were going to go down – and rightfully so. You can’t not pay the man his money. SMH.

According to Mariah Daily Journal, Mariah Carey’s new single is likely a T-Pain collaboration called ‘Migrate’. The 37 year old superstar hosted a New Year’s Eve part at TAO, Las Vegas and apparently rang in 2008 by playing the new track.

It’s worth noting that ‘It’s Like That’, the first single from the six times Platinum ‘Emancipation of Mimi’ LP was first played by Mariah at the New Year’s Eve 2005 Party she hosted at the PURE night club in Las Vegas on December 31, 2004.

I know T-Pain was inescapable in 2007 – I actually liked a few of his songs (did I have a choice? lol) – but come on now. Everybody and their mother is jumping on the T-Pain bandwagon and it’s becoming old, fast. Still, I won’t knock it until I’ve heard it…

Following much speculation, it has been confirmed that actor Eddie Murphy and longtime girlfriend Tracy Edmonds tied the knot yesterday. See the story below via PEOPLE.com:

Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds were married on New Year’s Day on a private island off Bora Bora in French Polynesia in front of 25 friends and family, their reps tell PEOPLE.

In a sunset ceremony on the beach Tuesday, Edmonds walked barefoot down the aisle to Gladys Knight’s “Makings of You.” The bride wore a custom-designed form-fitting dress by stylist and designer Sugia Nazel and Jill Baracci, designer and owner of Baracci boutique.

Murphy wore a cream suit and vest with an off-white handkerchief.

Among the guests were best man Johnny Gill, maid of honor Nicole Avant, matron of honor Julie Lev, as well as Edmonds’s parents Jacqueline and George McQuarn, her brother Michael, Murphy’s mother Lillian Lynch and his brother Vernon.

Hmmm. How Tracy has managed to look over Eddie’s callousness in the Mel B situation is beyond me. Kinda says a lot about her, unless there’s something we don’t know…

Songstress Alicia Keys performed her current single ‘Like You’ll Never See Me Again’ on Carson Daly’s New Year’s Countdown show which screened on NBC. Check out the performance below: