THURSDAY'S R&B FABNESS!

Rapper Jay-Z has signed yet another act on Def Jam and she goes by the name of Karina Pasian and she will be coming out with an album next year. On the album, she has worked with Sean Garrett, Ne-yo, John Legend and Gordan Chambers. Will she be as big as Jay-Z's phenomenal international sensation Rihanna? Or will she end up getting dropped like Jay-Z's other signed act Teairra Mari? Only time will tell, but as soon as I get some music I'll put it up. Seems like 2007 is going to be a fantastic year for R&B music. It has been made OFFICIAL that Usher WILL be coming out with his 5th studio album next year. According to MTV, his new album will be released mid-2007:

"I feel it's about time for me to come out with an album," he said via phone from Atlanta on Tuesday. "I'm not extremely enthused about where music has gone. I say that coming from listening to artists like Stevie Wonder, Prince, Michael Jackson - those great artists and iconic musicians. I feel music is at a standstill."

Jermaine Dupri and the production teams of Dre and Vidal and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are all scheduled to collaborate on the record - as is Jay-Z. Usher, who appears on the Pharrell-helmed "Anything" from Jay's Kingdom Come LP, said he and Hova did a trade-off. [READ MORE]

I can't wait. This should be a good one. I love Usher's music especially the My Way album. I enjoyed 8701. Also, Confessions was well produced as well. Confessions sold a staggering one million in its first week in the US and wounded up selling nine million in the US alone. In the UK, Usher made his first claim to fame when his single You Make Me Wanna shot right in at no1 in the UK singles chart. However, the success of 8701 further established Usher's career over here when he released the extremely catchy Pop Ya Color which was the opening single for the album. That went in at no2 but the 8701 album went straight in at no1 in the UK album charts. The phenomenal success didn't stop there either. He released Confessions back in 2004 and that was just mega-huge internationally. Confessions went straight in at no1 in the UK chart and stayed in the top 5 for SIX MONTHS. His opening single Yeah went straight in at no 1 in the UK singles chart as did his second single Burn and all his other singles went into the top 5, so as you can see, Usher is massive here and I can't wait to see him shut down Justin Timberfake who is well known for jacking Prince and Michael Jackson. And speaking of Michael Jackson:

Justin's ex Britney Spears was spotted yesterday wearing a Michael Jackson Thriller T-Shirt. That is, after she wounded up wearing the clothes that um, were actually those of her male pal. Britney's latest plights and non-stop partying has landed her in hot water with child services as I am now reading many reports that they are beginning to show some concern over her two children whom she's seemed to have abandoned over the past two weeks. Is Britney about to be investigated once more over her duties as a mother? Somewhere in his trailer park, Kevin Federline is grinning from ear to ear.

The Eddie Murphy and Mel B saga continues. The Sun reports that Mel B is "shellshocked" at Eddie demanding a DNA test. The foul thing about it is that she had no idea she was dumped and found out the same time as the rest of the world - through the media when his comments were hugely publicised. How humiliating! This is what you call a true dog. She reportedly told a pal: "There's no question that Eddie is the father of my baby. I haven't been with anyone else since I met Eddie. "I'm shell-shocked by the whole thing. As far as I was concerned we hadn't really broken up - we'd just had a bit of a row." (She couldn't get along with his mother Lillian who was living with them in Eddie's house, not to mention that most of his family were folks she didn't see eye to eye with. Most of them were on his payroll and they complained that she was "rude" and "abrasive") Her comments follow Murphy's appearance on a Dutch TV show, where he told the presenter: "I don't know whose child that is, until it comes out and has a blood test. You shouldn't jump to conclusions." And this is the man Tracey Edmonds is breaking her neck to be with. [SOURCE]

My girl Mariah was seen out and about in Beverley Hills. Wow. She is wearing clothes!

Blu Cantrell attended the SeenON.com Launch Party. Wow. There is just no getting away from this chick. What is she supposedly doing with herself these days?

Cassie was seen at the Washington Wizards vs New York Knicks Game.

Gwen Stefani was seen leaving Coty Event at Hotel Gansevoort where she was there to see french perfume manufacturer Coty announce the latest addition to its growing roster of celebrity fragrances: Gwen Stefani and her L.A.M.B. apparel and accessory line. The fragrance is expected to launch at retail in fall 2007.

Jennifer Hudson attended the Stuff Magazine Toys for Bigger Boys. With all the Dream Girls glory that she's been receiving lately, she must be on top of the world. Even though Beyonce denied this week that there is a feud between the pair, she honestly cannot expect us not to think she wished it were her who was receiving all the accolades. Sometimes being an international star isn't always enough and for once, the talent actually speaks than the popularity. Dream Girls doesn't open in the UK until next February 2007. May have to use my US connections to bag myself a pirate. Hahaha. Naw, seriously, I can wait. I'm sure it'll be worth it.

Well, here are some candid shots of Kelly Rowland in New York, taking a break from recording. Her new album Miss Kelly (WTF?) is expected to drop in the early quarter of 2007. I'm also told that Olivia has scrapped Behind Closed Doors and has recorded completely brand new material for her new album which is to be titled ... WAIT FOR IT ... Second Chance! How frickin' ironic is that? Anyway, the new album is expected to drop next year on G-Unit but don't take my word for it. Once I get some concrete evidence, I will post it! So um, watch this space folks.

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And this week sees R&B releases from Beyonce and co (Dream Girls OST), Ciara (Ciara: The Evolution) and Gwen Stefani (The Sweet Escape). Ciara is on course to clinch the no1 spot with sales of 325K in its first week, and it's even reported that the number could be even higher. She is even tipped to outsell big names like Eminem and Gwen Stefani:

As we head full-on into the teeth of the holiday retail season, LaFace/ZLG soul diva Ciara's The Evolution, featuring duets with 50 Cent, Lil Jon and Chamillionaire, appears poised to top the HITS album chart next Tuesday.

According to reports from those retailers who haven't lost our phone number, the total could go as high as 325k, or even higher. The album features producers will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas and the Neptunes' Pharrell. The Atlanta-based singer's previous album, Goodies, came out in Sept. '04, selling 125k its first week on the way to 2.6 million in the U.S. - HITS

I say waaaay to go Ciara! Her album is hot hot hot, so hot, it brings summer to a cold and wintry December, and of course she was smart enough to release it in the Christmas season where many of us will be emptying the lining of our pockets to buy Christmas presents. So I am well made for her. Congratulations.

By the way ladies, many of you kept asking me if Chris Brown is 18 yet and the truth is, he turned 18 recently, so um, we no longer have to feel bad for fancying him. I mean, I'm only a few years older than him and the fact that we were both born in the 80's ... well, I don't feel too bad to be honest with you but yeah, he is now legal. This news is pointless I know but give a sista a break. Christmas done come early, the boy is legal dammit! Oh and he says that as he's legal, his new album WILL be more mature in lyrics and content but it will still be something his younger fans can listen to because he doesn't want to alienate them. Awww, how sweet. His new album will be released mid-late 2007 and ya'll know Usher will be coming out that time as well. Let the battle commence!

Today's new music comes from Tweet and Ciara:

This is an up-tempo bonus track taken from Ciara's new album Ciara: The Evolution and it's called Love You Better. It's okay. The beat has potential though it does sound like a second grade Get Up/1,2 Step. Not sure if it's me but a lot of her dance tracks have a similar backdrop to them.

See Ya is a laidback and chilled R&B number which is what she was all about during her Southern Hummingbird days. Nice track nevertheless. Whisper is a soulful piano-laid anthem so if you can't wait for Tweet's upcoming album I'm Back Again so you may want to check these out. Thanks for the music Etienne.

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See Ya - Tweet [DOWNLOAD]
Whisper - Tweet [DOWNLOAD]

And lastly, here is my review of Fantasia's new album:

OK, so last night I downloaded the ripped edition of Fantasia's new album Fantasia and I listened to it from beginning to end, so here's my review. I Nominate You, Only One U, I Feel Beautiful, Two Weeks Notice, Surround U and Bump What Ya Friends Say are simply OUTSTANDING. This is the real emotive of reasoning as to what true sanging is really all about, nurturing the soul by singing with so much emphasis, power, and passion. The tracks were sung with so much empathy, you felt the pain, the sorrow and the joy. She really does take it to church, something which was acquired during her time as a choir girl. Even her upbeat tracks are fresh, innovative and different with minor alternative sounds which were incorporated well with the contemporary R&B. This marks the VERY reason why Fantasia Barrino was crowned the American Idol winner during season 3 and rightly so, though it should have been Jennifer Hudson or Latoya London as the runner-up. Fantasia gets a gratifying 8 out of 10.