Fashionista/femcee Lil’ Kim is back in a big way with ‘I Am Not the One’ – the latest Itune single from the rap Queen Bee.  Formerly Hip Hop’s female frontrunner, the diva now finds herself trying to catch up with the likes of another rapping wigged wonder.  Yet, while busting Paypal charts wide open with her most recent release, such presence has yet to translate into Billboard placements.  But, with new music on the horizon, that maybe set to change.

Is ‘I Am Not the One’ the one Kim needs for a hit? You decide after the jump:

(more…)

Grammy winning, multiplatinum diva Toni Braxton is enjoying a reignited career with the monstrous success of WeTV’s ‘Braxton Family Values’.  No time to rest on laurels, the eldest Braxton daughter is under new management and already working on new projects – including an album, rumored Broadway shows, and possibly films.

Still making promo rounds for the hit reality show, the R&B vet recently dropped by Essence magazine to tackle topics of ex-husband Keri Lewis, sibling Tamar Braxton, why Mark Wahlberg is her ideal “snowman”, and why she’s been absent for many of the Braxtons’ earlier promotional appearances.

As ever, Braxton is brazen in her responses.  Check after the jump for the read:

(more…)

‘Headlines’ rapper Drake has seen many-a-headline surrounding his name over his impressive Billboard storming, via sophomore album ‘Take Care’, set to take the #1 spot on the tally with a whopping 700k sold in its first week.

With a growing promo schedule, the latest place fans can find the Torontoian is gracing the cover of Jet magazine.  In the issue, set to hit stands on November 28th, the rapper chats about many topics including why people respect him as a rapper (despite his “emo” image), the ‘Take Care’ follow-up, and more.

Catch a few excerpts (courtesy of FreddyO) after the jump:

(more…)

Undoubtedly two of the biggest Urban releases of the year, all eyes are on the first week sales of Rihanna‘s ‘Talk That Talk’ and Mary J. Blige‘s ‘My Life II: The Journey Continues’.

After finally going on sale yesterday, today usher’s in the eagerly anticipated sales projections. Find out what the ladies are looking to shift each after the jump….

(more…)

Undoubtedly still high from her double win last night at the 2011 American Music Awards, fashion forward femcee Nicki Minaj is moving forward with the successor to her successful #1 debut album ‘Pink Friday’.

Speaking with Cash Money record label CEO Birdman, Billboard got the latest dish on the diva (whose first new single maybe dropping sooner than you think):

(more…)

Since her well documented arrival on the music scene four years ago, Ms. Onika Maraj has found it impossible to escape polarized opinion.

Revolutionary to some whilst repulsive to others, it wasn’t long before she had found her way to the forefront of Urban culture for more than just her animated lyrical style and Pro-beauty approach to her aesthetic.

Lending her talents to the likes of Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera and Kanye West all before the release of her record-breaking LP ‘Pink Friday‘, the former waitress built up a fan base of keyboard happy mini-me’s who unknowingly helped her publicists to turn the entertainer into a social media magnet.

YouTube and Twitter being responsible for the acquistion of many of her international fans who were not yet able to access her in their own domestic market.

With her debut album now the third highest selling LP to be released by a female artist for 2010/2011, Nicki Minaj is undeniably Rap’s most celebrated sensation.

However, seemingly in sync with the consistency of her record sales is one undying criticism of her.

That she is inauthentic.

That Nicki Minaj is nothing more than a gimmick with a Mattelic heartbeat.

(more…)

To say the last year has been eventful for the Rapper T.I would be an understatement.

From being released from jail to scoring his very own VH1 Reality show, the last twelve months have certainly seen him enjoy numerous highs and a number of well publicized lows.

Now, he is using these experiences  to lay the foundations for his eighth studio album, Trouble Man‘.

All the details below…

(more…)

Currently on the promotional train in support of his latest album ‘Take Care‘, Hip Hop hero Drake stopped by at The Daily Beast recently to clear up a number of reports surrounding both he and his career.

One of these being his short lived ‘romance’ with hit maker Rihanna and how he really feels about her ex boyfriend Chris Brown.

His telling comments  below…

(more…)

It may have occurred two years ago, but it seems that the vicious attack carried out R&B performer Chris Brown on his then girlfriend Rihanna remains just as detrimental to his image as it was when it actually happened.

For, in response to the media’s continued ‘coverage’ or rather discussion of the ‘incident’, the entertainer has lashed out via the social networking platform, Twitter.

Find out what he said below…

(more…)

Peep this shot of Pop icon Whitney Houston and producer Debra Martin Chase taken on the set of the upcoming movie ‘Sparkle’ recently .

The arrival of the snap comes just days after ‘The Bodyguard‘ star spoke candidly to Access Hollywood about her role in the movie and how working on set has humbled her.

Image courtesy of RealHipHopFanz.

Your thoughts?

The last few years have seen Rihanna linked to a number of high profile suitors. From performer Chris Brown to Drake, actor Josh Hartnett to  Baseball player Matt Kemp more recently, Ms. Fenty has had her fair share of industry meat.

Now she has spoken to Ellen about why working so hard has come at the expense of her love life.

Her comments below…

(more…)

Last night saw a number of  the urban world’s more celebrated stars align to celebrate the 2011 Soul Train Awards.

From Keri Hilson to Phaedra Parks of the Real Housewives Of Atlanta (available to watch here), the red carpet and the event itself was awash with stars, which also included singer Marsha Ambrosius and director/Reality Tv star  Laurieann Gibson.

More snaps below…

(more…)