In news that many would not have forseen, singer T-Pain’s latest album ‘Epiphany’ has outsold Rihannna’s ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’ to secure the #1 position on the Billboard 200 chart. Though mid-week sales indicated neither artist would be in contention for the top spot (Paul McCartney looked set for the position), T-Pain charted at #1 with 171,000 copies sold and Rihanna at #2 – selling 161,000 copies.
Now that the numbers are out, I can’t see Rihanna’s label, Def Jam, being pleased with this. Yes it’s her highest debut yet, but with ‘Umbrella’ being so successful (currently #1 on the Billboard Hot 100) many expected her to move more units than she did. I guess people weren’t buying into the hype.

Why do you think Rihanna didn’t hit #1?
Ja Rule has been laying low these past few years; with little heard from him since the release of his last album R.U.L.E in 2004. However, the rapper is readying his latest LP ‘The Mirror’ for a September 25th release. This new track, Body’, is slated to be the first single from the CD. Produced by 7 Aurelius (Ashanti’s ‘Only U’) and Irv Gotti, ‘Body’ is a typical Ja Rule song – he’s singing on the hook. I’m really feeling this, though; it has a cool summer vibe to it. Many have written Ja off since his feud with 50 Cent a few years back; with 50’s career waning, I’m left wondering:

Can Ja Rule make a comeback?

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I always felt ‘LoveStoned’ was one of the better tracks from Justin Timberlake’s sophomore effort ‘Future Sex/Love Sounds’. However the video is just not cutting it. Sub-par at best, the vid comes across as cheap and rushed. Maybe after the big-budget videos for ‘SexyBack’ and ‘What Goes Around’, the label didn’t have much (funds) to work with? Whatever the case, this is a disappointment.

What do you think of the video?

Keyshia Cole has set the release date for her upcoming sophomore album ‘Just Like Me’. The long-awaited CD will hit stores September 18th. Benny Boom will direct the video for the lead single ‘Let It Go’ – which features Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim – next week. Cole’s last effort ‘The Way It Is’ spawned hits such as ‘I Changed My Mind’ and ‘Love’ and has been certified Platinum.
In other Keyshia Cole news, BET have agreed to air another season of the singer’s reality show ‘Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is’. The new season of the show ‘will focus on preparation for the new album as well as Cole’s mother’s recent release from jail’.
I’m really liking her new single ‘Let It Go’ and if this album is as great as her last, then she’ll be on to a winner.

Will you be checking for Keyshia this time?
After disbanding briefly in 2004, R&B trio Blaque have returned to the music scene. Now signed to Family Over Everything Entertainment/Geffen Records, the ladies are set to release their new album ‘Beauty’ in September. This new song, ‘Blue Jeans’, is slated to feature on the set. If this is any indication of the album’s direction, then I may pass on it. The uptempo club track sounds too generic and doesn’t really go anywhere. I’m hoping the rest of their material is better than this or there may have been no point reuniting.

Hit or Miss?

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Singer Kelly Rowland is asking the public to select the follow-up to her current single ‘Like This’. In partnership with AOL, Kelly has presented eight tracks as potential singles that can be voted for…

Click here to see the options/vote

Which song did you pick?

There seems to be no stopping R&B star Rihanna. The singer’s mega-hit ‘Umbrella’ remains on top of the official UK singles chart and her LP ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’ debuted at #1 on the album chart. This marks the first time the singer has had #1’s on either chart.

It seems all that promo has paid off; Rihanna, 19, has been all over Europe in recent weeks. Even if the album isn’t selling as well in the US, I have a feeling she’ll do very well over here. The new musical direction she has taken on is very much what’s ‘hot’ over here right now. The confirmed 2nd single, ‘Shut Up & Drive’, should further cement her place as a viable artist here.

This sneak peak at the upcoming season of Making The Band has me anticipating the show a little more. Premiering on June 18th, the fourth season of the hit MTV show sees Diddy putting together an all-male ‘super group’. I must say that the end of the vid has me thinking that the whole Diddy/Laurie-Ann controversy was a publicity stunt to promote the show…I guess it worked.

Will you be tuning in to Making The Band 4?

R&B singer and burgeoning Broadway star, Fantasia performed at the 61st Annual Tony Awards last night. Singing ‘I’m Here’ from the Tony-nominated Broadway show ‘The Color Purple’, Fantasia absolutely nailed it. Each time I see her perform the song, she tops the last.

What did you think of the performance?

The video for Ali & Gipp’s new single ‘Almost Made Ya’ premiered today. I’ve been liking this Jermaine Dupri-produced song for some time now and it’s great that it finally got the video treatment. Though it’s pretty standard, the video is decent and LeToya is looking on-point – as usual. Be on the lookout for new albums by both Ali & Gipp as well as LeToya in the months ahead.

What do you think of the video?

This new Kanye West track ‘Bittersweet’ has me anticipating his upcoming ‘Graduation’ album even more. The melodic mid-tempo is a collaboration between Kanye and Pop Rock artist John Mayer. I’m really liking the laidback vibe the song has to it and having John Mayer on the hook works surprisingly well. It’s not the first time Kanye has stepped out of the box with his feature artists – Maroon 5’s Adam Levine joined Kanye on their 2005 hit ‘Heard Em Say’. ‘Bittersweet’ is taken from Kanye’s third album ‘Graduation’ which hits stores August 21st.

Hit or Miss?

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The second single from Amerie’s latest album has been confirmed as ‘Gotta Work’. It’s being reported that Scott Franklin, who directed the singer’s last video ‘Take Control’, will also work on this. Amerie, 29, released her third album, ‘Because I Love It’, in Europe this past May; the album is scheduled for a Stateside release in the summer.

Though ‘Gotta Work’ is a good track, I would have preferred her label go with one of the album’s better cuts such as ‘Make Me Believe’ or ‘Crush’. Either way, I’m hoping the video is better than the extra confusing ‘Take Control’ vid.
Are you feeling the single choice?
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