Still proving that girls really do run this motha-, gal pals Katy Perry and Rihanna‘s reigns on singles charts just won’t let up.  The latter, finding herself atop Billboard Hot 100 for the 7th week with monster hit ‘We Found Love’ and the former getting one step closer to the top with ‘The One That Got Away’ (jumping from 9-4). By no means unfamiliar territory, the Bajan beauty’s previous efforts ‘Umbrella’ and ‘The Way You Lie’ both dominated the Hot 100 for 7 weeks with the help of hip-hop heavyweights Jay Z and Eminem respectively .  However, if Ms. Fenty manages to stay atop the chart for two more weeks she will best herself and tie fellow-talentless mannequin Ke$ha‘s ‘Tik Tok’ for the longest #1 run of the noughties.

And, while Perry’s ascension was undoubtedly assisted by the availability of her single for .69 cent purchase recently, the newly announced forthcoming B.O.B. remix to the song may give it that push it needs to notch her 6th #1 single.  If such happens, she will be the first artist in history to nab 6 #1 singles from one album (presently tying both Michael Jackson‘s 5 #1s and nearing Janet Jackson‘s 7 top ten singles from one album record).

Elsewhere on the singles charts, Adele and Christina/Maroon 5 move into the #7 and #8 spots respectively, Flo Rida‘s ‘Good Feeling’ makes good with #5, ‘Watch the Throne’ co-stars Jay Z and Kanye West watch the #6 spot, and T-Pain‘s ‘5 O’Clock’ crashes in at #10.  The album charts sees jazz crooner Michael Buble reasserting his domination as his holiday set moved an impressive 450-500k after nearly two months of release.  (source)

Your thoughts?

At this year’s BET Awards, That Grape Juice caught up with ‘Good Good’ vocalist Ashanti  on the red carpert where exclusively revealed that her next LP is to be released independently.

Now, she has gone on step further, by announcing that the LP is to be released by her own company,’Written Entertainment‘.

Full story below…

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As reported here, ‘Try It With Me’ beauty Nicole Scherzinger is trying yet again to gain footing on U.S. pop charts – this time, with her newly announced single ‘Pretty’.  Set for unveiling live on tonight’s X-Factor, the songstress will take a recess from her judging duties on the hit reality show to take the stage to perform the number.  While fans await the former PCD-frontwoman’s offerings, she was spotted yesterday chatting it up with Access Hollywood.

There, she addressed rumors on Rachel Crow’s shocking expulsion from the show last week (and death threats received regarding the tween singer), the highly publicized rumor of switcharoo between she and X Factor U.K. judge Kelly Rowland, and more.  See it all after the jump:

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As one music’s more outspoken characters, Mary J. Blige has never been once to mind her words when it comes to the sharing her thoughts on her fellow divas.

Now peep what she has to say about the ever pressing issue that is Lil Kim’s problem with Rap’s reigning Queen Nicki Minaj  during an interview with WGCI’s Tony Sculfield and the Morning Riot below…

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Though one time scheduled to give the Billboard 200 a double dose of ‘Life’, Monica and Mary J. Blige‘s album faceoff was postponed when the ‘So Gone’ diva rescheduled the due date of her forthcoming album ‘New Life’.  With its new February 21st release swiftly approaching, Mrs. Brown unveils that instead of a showdown, the two may be prepping a diva duet for the collection before its completion.

In a recent interview, she revealed:

“I have a couple of different people that I really like to work with, I’ve always wanted to work with R. Kelly, I’ve always wanted to work with Mary [J. Blige],” Monica admits.  I wanted to save that for last because I think it’s always good when you sit down with artists that you admire and love and play them songs and see if anything touches them.”

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Sure to send R&B lovers into a frenzy if it comes to pass, the addition of the aforementioned would join the album’s already star-studded credits including (the now ousted) Lil’ Kim, Rick Ross, Jermaine Dupri, Missy Elliott, and more.  Fans who are looking for more of Mo should check out her recent interview with New Music Directors after the jump.  It’s there she details what listeners can expect from her forthcoming LP:

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After telling potential suitors she wanted no ‘Kele Kele’ love, feisty Naija stunner Tiwa Savage is back with latest effort ‘Without My Heart’.

Produced by Oak (Nicki Minaj’s ‘Your Love’), the track features rapper Don Jazzy. Does it measure up to the brilliance of ‘Kele’ or its solid follow-up ‘Love Me’? Find out after the jump…

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R&B queen Mary J. Blige may be presently battling contenders on the Billboard 200 with her acclaimed ‘My Life II’ album, but now it seems she’s taking those fighting skills to another arena. The ’25/8′ diva is certainly proving that concept to be more descriptive of her promo schedule as she joins rockers Nickelback to honor the troops via the annual NBC-sponsored special ‘Tribute To the Troops’.

Set for an hour-long special airing Saturday, December 17 at 9 p.m. on NBC (shot at Fort Bragg in North Carolina), the showing will be just one of many fans can expect to see the diva lend her talents to in the coming days including ‘VH1 Divas’ (Dec. 19) and ‘Home For the Holidays‘ with Martina McBride special (Dec. 21 at 8PM ET on CBS).

Until then, catch a snippet of Blige performing ‘Real Love’ for the troops after the jump:

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Solo dreams must have been long on the agenda of will.i.am. For, the Black Eyed Peas frontman has wasted little to no time re-launching his bid for singular stardom – merely weeks after the group disbanded.

His first effort ‘T.H.E (The Hardest Ever)’ was today brought to visual life when its accompanying video premiered. Check out the Jennifer Lopez and Mick Jagger assisted clip after the jump…

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Looking at her today, it’s hard believe that people once hailed Britney Spears as the 2nd coming of Janet Jackson. Indeed, although her PR team forged a convient likeness to fellow blonde Madonna, it was clear that Britney’s creative team was reading and applying pages of “Miss Janet” book. And by we mean no shade, rather a nod to her. Ms. Spears used to be one hell of a performer.

Case, point, example: this 2002 performance of ‘Boys’ from her Dream Within A Dream Tour, featuring the mighty Pharrell Williams, also masterminded the track.

Here you’ll see vintage Britney commanding the stage in a way only she could at the start of last decade. The downright ridiculous lip-syncing is offset by some intricate choreography – including a made-for-MTV breakdown – that she manages to execute effortlessly. She oozed a sexiness and a confidence even when simply  walking across stage. And of course it doesn’t hurt that the song is a definite winner.

Aged 20 at the time, the ‘Circus’ singer was only 5 years into her recording career and was already performing like a seasoned world class act.

Unfortunately, fast forward 10 years later, Britney is merely a shadow of a shadow of a shadow of her former self, resorting to “armology”, “chairology”, and “wheel-me-around-the-stage-ology”. A sad reality, as her musical efforts continue to qualitatively stay on trend, garnering “hit” status in the process. Had she kept performing with such intensity, she would still have been THE biggest popstar on the planet – by way of undeniable fact and not PR fiction.

Give us more, Britney!

Your thoughts?

As 2011 inches nearer its final curtain call, annual review lists are pouring in a plenty. However, for many music enthusiasts, Billboard’s Top 25 Tours of the year tally proves the one to watch. Indeed, it clears the smoke and mirrors, giving true insight into who exactly is generating the big bucks and has real claim to the “superstar” status dished out all too generously these days.

So without further adieu, this year’s list awaits after the jump. Let’s just say it may surprise a few…

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With the X Factor merely a day away from wrapping, judge Kelly Rowland is getting ready to return to the day job.

First on the agenda, it seems, is the follow-up to this year’s ‘Here I Am’, which Rowland revealed may boast a ‘Motown’ sound.

Details after the jump…

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Since debuting six years ago, Island stunner Rihanna has amassed a career made in Pop Tart heaven.

From the lucrative endorsement deals, countless #1 singles and carefully managed media campaigns all used to compensate for her lack of discernible talent, anyone who would argue Ms. Fenty is anything but a success is quite simply- a liar.

However, recent decisions made by her management company Roc Nation have forced many to question if they really have  her best interests at heart.

For, taking into account the knee jerk approach to promoting her music, their inability to secure her a US #1 album, and their plans to release an It Girl with the looks and skill that will ultimately make her Fenty’s biggest threat, is it high time she bid them farewell?

Weigh in below…

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