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?

LISTEN: Blue Jeans (REMOVED)
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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Things aren’t looking too good for 50 Cent’s forthcoming ‘Curtis’ album. According to reports, execs at the G-Unit leader’s record label, Interscope, are unhappy with the lack of public interest in regard to the rapper’s latest singles ‘Amusement Park’ and ‘Straight To The Bank’. This, apparently, was a major factor in the decision to push the album back from June to September. 50 is said to be frustrated and is ‘attempting to salvage the situation’.
I can’t say I didn’t expect it. 50’s tactic of starting beef with other rappers to generate a buzz around his own album got tired real quick. It’s as if he started to believe his own hype and now no one is checking for him. I really don’t see this ‘Curtis’ album performing as well as any of his other CD’s. Seems he’s heading for the same fate as Ja Rule…

Will 50 Cent Succeed With ‘Curtis’?

Rihanna seems to be everywhere nowadays promoting her latest effort ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’. This time the Def Jam star performed her #1 hit ‘Umbrella’ on BET’s 106 & Park yesterday. As has been the case recently, she performed really well and her new-found confidence as a performer shone through. Considering the news of Rihanna’s lower-than expected first week album sales, it’ll be interesting to see how she fares with future singles.

What did you think of the performance?

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I managed to meet R&B star Kelly Rowland today in London. This took place at the taping of Loose Women which she was performing on (airs tomorrow). I didn’t attend the show, but caught up with Kelly afterwards.

I’ve seen ‘Ms Kelly’ in concert etc before, but she is STUNNING in person – a real beauty. She was so gracious and down-to earth. Smiling and being very friendly with everyone. Her minder allowed the waiting crowd full access to Kelly, so along with an autograph, hug and many pictures, I was able to speak with Kelly in some detail.

Many were acting star-struck, which to some extent I was too, but I said to myself ‘you don’t see Kelly everyday…you better ask her something!’ I proceeded to wish her luck with the project and asked her what the 2nd single will be – to which I got a ‘hmmm’ as a response. I informed her that alot of people are feeling ‘Work’ (someone else screamed out ‘Still In Love With My Ex’) and then lol…*crickets* she (and her entourage) stared at me right in my face for like 5 seconds straight. I had to ask her ‘why is everyone looking at me? lol’ She was shocked and said that she didn’t know people knew of ‘Work’ etc like that. She was really flattered, so much so that when she was about to leave she called me out personally – by name – and thanked me for the info and said ‘it’s really useful’. I’m guessing their still mulling over which single to pick and it was good for her to get an idea of what people are liking.

All in all, a great day…

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R&B songstress Teedra Moses is readying her sophomore album ‘The Young Lioness’ for an August release. The long-awaited LP sees the critically-acclaimed Moses return to the music scene after what appeared to be a three year hiatus. Speaking to VIBE late last month, Moses said she spent her time out of the limelight writing for other artists including Mary J. Blige and Macy Gray. ‘I’m not the kind of person who’s just gonna put together an album in two months or two weeks. I like to present myself over a period of time’ she added. Though no definite lead single has been chosen, Moses is rooting for a track called ‘Love’s Gonna Be’ – which samples Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrel’s ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’.
I’m really anticipating Teedra’s new CD. Her first, ‘Complex Simplicity’, was superb – with great tracks such as ‘Backstroke’, ‘You Better Tell Her’ and ‘Be Your Girl’. Hopefully, this time around, she’ll get the recognition she deserves.

Will you be checking for Teedra?
New music videos by R&B singer John Legend and UGK & Outkast debuted yesterday. Check them out:

John Legend – Stereo

‘Stereo’ was one of the only tracks I was feeling from John Legend’s lackluster 2nd LP ‘Once Again’ and it’s great to see that the video turned out decent. It has a distinctly alternative/unique vibe to it and serves as one of his better videos. I’m not sure if it’ll do anything to rekindle peoples interest in the album, which kinda came and went.

UGK – Int’l Players Anthem (ft. Outkast)

It’s been a while since Outkast have been in the limelight, so their appearance on this UGK track is welcomed. I’m really liking the song and video; the vid follows the concept of track closely and the resulting video is hilarious. Definitely one the better videos released this year. Stars including T-Pain, Chamillionaire and Big Gipp make cameo appearances.

What do you think of the videos?

Rihanna is currently dominating the charts and breaking records with her hit ‘Umbrella’, however it’s being reported that Mary J. Blige wanted to record the song first. 19 yr old Rihanna managed to secure the track by convincing the songwriters to give it to her instead. Speaking to UK newspaper Daily Telegraph, the Bajan star said:
“Any songwriter would die for Mary to sing one of their songs. So I just prayed that I got it. It was perfect for me – it had a West Indian groove. When I saw one of the songwriters at the Grammy Awards, I went up to him and said, ‘Listen, ‘Umbrella’ is my song. He must have thought I was really pushy and laughed it off. But I held his face and I turned it back to my own, ‘No, I’m serious, I need ‘Umbrella’. Two days later we found out the song was mine.”
Can’t hate on the girl for getting hers; she’s reaping the benefits now. Though, it would be interesting to hear Mary’s take on the track. Thinking about it, I can imagine her doing a pretty good job. In other Mary J. Blige news, the Grammy Award-winning singer will be performing her own MTV Unplugged special this summer.

Who do you think would have sung ‘Umbrella’ better?
Bad Boy Records artist Cheri Dennis is finally set release her long-delayed debut album, with the Yung Joc collaboration ‘Portrait’ as the CD’s first official single. Label head Diddy confirmed the news at the ‘Bad Boy Upfront’ event in New York this week. For those not familar with Cheri, the talented singer/songwriter has been signed to Diddy’s label for several years and her project has constantly been pushed back in favour of other artists- including Diddy himself. The hold-ups haven’t stopped Cheri from carving out her own way through the industry; she has written tracks for numerous artists including Olivia and Danity Kane. Dennis also sang the theme tune to MTV’s ‘Making The Band’ – ‘Oh La La’. The currently untitled album is slated for a summer release and will feature productions from Ryan Leslie, Byan Michael Cox and Rodney ‘Darkchild’ Jerkins.
I’m really hoping her album sees the light of day. If anyone thinks Mya and Kelly Rowland have been pushed back into oblivion, then they don’t know about Cheri. Anyway, the single ‘Portrait’ – which surfaced a few months ago- is a great track and I think it’ll do well. Check it out…

Will you be checking for Cheri?

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Rihanna – Cry

‘Cry’ is featured as a bonus track on the Japanese version of Rihanna’s upcoming album ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’. Though the song wouldn’t be out of place on the album’s main tracklist, it’s understandable why it was left off. The ballad is ‘ok’ at best and, though lyrically engaging, the song is pretty bland. I’ve definitely heard better ballads from the Bajan singer before.

LISTEN: Cry
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Mutya Buena – B Boy Baby (ft. Amy Winehouse)
Some of you – especially our European visitors – may remember Mutya from her time in one of the UK’s biggest girl groups, the Sugababes. Since leaving the group in 2005, Mutya has recently re-emerged with a new album ‘Real Girl’ (due June 4th) and her current single of the same name is enjoying major success on the charts (currently sitting at #11 on downloads alone). This new track, ‘B Boy Baby’, is a collaboration with rapidly rising star Amy Winehouse and is featured on Mutya’s album. I’m liking this laid-back mid-tempo track; it has a cool throwback vibe to it. If you liked Amy’s international hit ‘Rehab’, then you’ll probably enjoy this one too.

LISTEN: B Boy Baby (ft. Amy Winehouse)
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R. Kelly – Good Sex (ft. Twista)
The Runners produced ‘Good Sex’ sees R. Kelly and Twista hook up again for another collaboration. Their last collabo ‘So Sexy’ was a great track, however ‘Good Sex’ kinda falls short of the benchmark set by their last outing. The song, a bonus track on R. Kelly’s latest album ‘Double Up’ (released this week), is just too standard – from the production to the tired subject matter. Thankfully the actual ‘Double Up’ album is solid and I suppose the song serves it’s purpose as a bonus track to bulk up the tracklisting.

LISTEN: Good Sex (ft. Twista)
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Kelly Rowland – Love (Snippet)
As the release of Kelly Rowland’s 2nd solo album ‘Ms Kelly’ draws nearer (due July 3rd), more songs from the set have started to surface. This lengthy clip of ‘Love’, a track from the CD, further suggests that Kelly really brought ‘it’ on the album. Aside from the great production, the attention grabbing lyrics enhance the song’s appeal. The track, co-written by Beyonce’s sister Solange (a few eyes rolled there, I’m sure..lol) sees Kelly taking a different approach to the overdone subject of love.

LISTEN: Love
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What do you think of the New Songs?
R&B star Fantasia stopped by the Regis & Kelly show yesterday to perform ‘I’m Here’ from the The Color Purple Broadway production; which she’s currently starring in as the lead character Celie. Check out the performance:

I’m really liking this performance; it seems every time Fantasia sings the song she switches it up and adds something new. The American Idol singer has been getting rave reviews for her performance in The Color Purple Broadway show and this definitely shows why.

What did you think of the performance?
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