CRAIG DAVID: AWKWARD [NEW ALBUM TRACK]....

Craig David seems to be channeling different styles on his new album 'Trust Me' Another leaked song from the new album goes by the name of Awkward.

[AWKWARD - CRAIG DAVID, EXCLUSIVE DOWNLOAD]

The song is very soulful. In fact, this is the most soulful that CD has ever been. Out of the 5 songs we've heard so far, this track is the best one followed closely by She's On Fire. The unknown female collaborator is an upcoming singer from London, but the voice is sounding a lot like Joss Stone. Overall, nice track.

MYA: GUEST APPEARS ON 'YO GABBA! GABBA!....

When your album gets pushed back consistently for the past two years and the interest starts to wane, time calls for desperate measures. Any guest appearance, no matter how laughable, is considered promotion right? Well, check out Mya when she guest appeared on Nickelodeon Jnr's Yo Gabba! Gabba! 2 weeks ago:


She was seen doing the "peanut butter stomp". She'd rather appear on a kiddie show than write a "Superhead"-style tell-all book about her sexual endeavors. Well, let me help her out here .... Mya's album Liberation drops 23rd Oct, and reportedly she has a new manager now and his name is Kevin Columbus, but if this is the best he can do.....

MARIAH CAREY: HER 'M BY MARIAH CAREY' TV COMMERCIAL.....

With an album set for a 4th December release and a movie underway, Mariah Carey is set for big things. Here is her TV commercial "M By Mariah Carey" for her latest fragrance:

It was premiered on MTV last night. I have to say I am totally feeling that background track. I just wanted it to contine, LOL! Mariah is really teasing us with the impending music. The new album is rumoured to be called "Sweet Soul Odyssey" but nothing has been set in stone. Whatever the title of the album is, I am mad hyped about it regardless.

JENNIFER LOPEZ: MILE IN THESE SHOES & NEVER GONNA GIVE UP [NEW LEAKED ALBUM TRACKS]....

Two exclusive tracks from J.Lo's upcoming 'Brave' album goes by the name of 'Mile In These Shoes' and 'Never Gonna Give Up'. The snippet of Mile In These Shoes has been floating around for the past few weeks. On the 26th August, the song actually debuted on the fourth season of Desperate Housewives. Now you can hear the track in full and high quality, as well as Never Gonna Give Up:

[MILE IN THESE SHOES][NEVER GONNA GIVE UP]

EXCLUSIVE DOWNLOADS!!!

Tracks are leaking left and right from this album. You know it's about to leak this weekend right? Anyway, Mile In These Shoes is very Madonna-ish and may take some time getting use to. Never Gonna Give Up is more my cup of tea. It is a really cool R&B midtempo. Shame about the vocals though as the song has great potential. Check them out and post your thoughts.

RECENT PERFORMANCES: NICOLE SCHERZINGER & J. HOLIDAY.....

The promo wheel has only just begun for Nicole Scherzinger as she performed lead single Whatever You Like on Pepsi Smash this week:


The single has officially tanked so her label had to rush out and make a video for 'Baby Love', which is her 2nd single in the US and her first single overseas. As for the performance, it was okay. She is not a great dancer but she did okay despite how wack the song is. Nicole's album Her Name Is Nicole will drop 6th November.

J. Holiday is gearing up to release his debut album Back of My Lac next week Tuesday (2nd Oct). He'll be up against competitor Trey Songz. They are both talented vocalists who are the exact same age (22). This should be interesting. Here's his performance of 'Bed' on Yahoo's 'Who's Next' series which took place earlier this week:

As for the performance, I liked it mainly because 'Bed' has been my main anthem over the past couple of weeks. He has one of the best young voices to hit us this year. And despite a mediocre album, he has all the time to improve his imperfections music-wise. If you still haven't checked out my album review for Back of My Lac then CLICK HERE.

TREY SONGZ: TREY DAY [ALBUM REVIEW]....

Trey Songz new album Trey Day leaked yesterday. The man known as the carbon copy of R.Kelly for having a similar tenor vocal delivery is back with another project. Despite the many album pushbacks, the album could have been more solid. The album is pretty chilled throughout with lots of slow bedroom numbers and oozes sex and not much else (Sex For Yo Stereo, Grub On, No Clothes On, Store Run, Last Time and many others). Even in the heavily parodied Grub On (produced by R.Kelly), Trey finds himself collaborating with his idol. The song was in deed a lazy effort as he blatantly copies his idol note for note instead of trying to make it his own. Sounds like any other typical R.Kelly track which lacks any type of innovation.

The CD features production contributions from the likes of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Bryan-Michael Cox and Danjahandz, Timbaland's silent producing partner who produced the infectious first single, "Wonder Woman", which to me is one of the stand outs as well as the Stargate produced Can't Help But Wait. The Bryan Michael Cox joint "Last Time" is potentially a nice effort despite its raunchiness. A little bland for a Cox production though. Long Gone Missin' is highly lacking and would have you reaching for the SKIP FORWARD button. The track features rapper B.G. formerly of Cash Money fame and DJ Drama who is the creator of the Gangsta Grillz mixtape series. The song is a big no-go. In Missin' You (produced by Stargate), the dreaded vocoder is used but the song is potentially radio savvy as is Fly Together which features rapper Jim Jones. The album isn't that bad but it is pretty underwhelming compared to his last effort.

My stand out tracks would have to be his singles Wonder Woman and Can't Help But Wait. Other tracks that caught my attention include Last Time, Role Play and We Should Be. Trey is a wonderful vocalist who has struggled to cross over into the mainstream. But it's like the Mary J Blige/Keyshia Cole and Mariah Carey/Leona Lewis comparisons in that he can't shake off the similarities that he has to his idol R.Kelly. Instead of trying to stray away from that it seems he's swimming more into R.Kelly's shadow, when he needs to find his own music identity on an artistic level. Trey Day drops 2nd October.

Rating: 3/5

CHRIS BROWN: 'THIS CHRISTMAS' MOVIE TRAILER....

Chris Brown has another movie hitting theaters this coming November which will coincide with the release of his new album Exclusive. Lauren London is in it as well as some of the Soul Food cast, Columbus Short (whom Chris co-starred with in Stomp The Yard) and Idris Elba:

Wow. I was expecting this movie to look mad corny but it looks like it's going to be great. Chris has a fat role, and a couple of singing stints here and there. And at least he doesn't die this time so yeah, he gets MAJOR screen time. I'm definitely going to see this.

MARY J BLIGE: JUST FINE [FULL SINGLE LEAKED]....

UPDATE: PREVIOUS LINK REPLACED WITH THE CD RIP. MARY'S ALBUM WILL NOW BE RELEASED 27TH NOVEMBER, AND NOT THE 20TH.

Mary J Blige's official single has leaked in FULL. A couple of days ago I posted the snippet called Just Fine. It turns out that this is the song being sent out to radio and NOT Here We Go Again as previously reported.

[JUST FINE (FULL CD RIP) - MARY J BLIGE, EXCLUSIVE DOWNLOAD]

The new single is taken off her upcoming new album Growing Pains to be released 27th November. It is produced by Tricky Stewart and Jazze Pha. I think this song is pure hotness. It's very infectious and catchy. I'm really enjoying this side to Mary. Please post your thoughts.

TODAY'S LATEST R&B CELEB SPOTTINGS [PART TWO]....

Yesterday, Rihanna visited fashion house Dsquared2 during the Spring/Summer 2008 collections of the Milan ready-to-wear fashion shows with Canadian designers Dean and Dan Caten:

Looks like her breasts were held hostage and they were making a desperate attempt to free themselves. Her chest is popping out all over the place. I am beginning to think she had a small enhancement and that the injured foot was just a distraction. LOL! Remember when Britney Spears fractured her knee and had to have surgery back in 98? She came out of surgery with super large breasts when she use to be hella flat before. And Rih-Rih is showing off her newly enhanced chest much more than before when she had little to be desired. Above all, she looked pretty in the face. Wasn't feeling the Amy Winehouse beehive though.

Kelis was spotted departing the Us Weekly Hot Hollywood ceremony in Cali yesterday looking a right H.A.M:

Where is her ass to rock those high waisted pants? LOL! Not those high waisted pants again!

Here are a couple of flicks of X-Factor winner Leona Lewis on the set of her video shoot for Bleeding Love:

No idea when the video debuts though. I actually heard some of her new songs that she previewed earlier this week. Very early 90's Mariah especially that "Homeless" track. Again, I am really excited about the new album.

Usher with his wife Tameka Foster were spotted cruising around New York City yesterday:

OH SHIT! I am dying at his interview with Miss Jones. Lawd hammercy. Talk about lack of professionalism on Miss Jones behalf. They had nerve to ask him if he made Tameka sign a pre-nup and he swore on air. Hahahaha. Usher was maaaad pissed throughout and only insisted he answer questions about his fragrance. I was CRACKING the fuck up so much I couldn't even breathe. Usher told them they were ignorant. Cracking stuff.

ASHANTI: ROLLING OUT MAGAZINE FEATURE....

Ashanti has done an interview and photoshoot for the September 2007 issue of Rolling Out magazine. In the interview, she spews info about her new album which you can read by heading on over to the ROLLING OUT WEBSITE.

Nice photoshoot. Would have been nice if they were available in HQ but I'll take what I can get. I have a query though. Is anyone else worried about the new Mariah Carey album? I think it may get pushed back to next year even. I mean, Ashanti's album drops on the same day as Mariah's and Ashanti already has a single out. We also know the name of her new album which is called The Declaration but yet there's NO news whatsoever surrounding Mariah's new single OR album. The press release was supposed to go out this week and the week is nearly over. Nothing has been confirmed. I'm just saying to be prepared for the worse.

TODAY'S LATEST R&B CELEB SPOTTINGS ....

Last night, the New York Chapter of The Recording Academy paid tribute to Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys at a dinner held at Cipriani's:

Over the years Alicia's fashion sense have been quite questionable but this outfit right here will leave you completely bamboozled as you try to understand it. The gloves could have stayed at home but those shoes, um no Alicia. She needed to be arrested by the fashion police for those alone. I've always hated high-waisted pants on big boned women. I notice how this look has become a popular trend this year especially with the R&B diva's. It certainly isn't a look I can see myself adopting any time soon. I guess pro-active is not working again either because the HQ close-ups show her face has been PLASTERED with foundation like how you'd heavily plaster icing on a cake. Overall, this is Alicia not looking her greatest. She looked lovely on 106 but here, not so much.

More flicks:

Alicia's mama (2nd left), J Records boss Clive Davis (far right) and LA Reid (2nd far right) were on offer to give their congrats. Other honorees included Bon Jovi, Donnie McClurkin and the Creators of West Side Story.

Last night, hottie Chris Brown attended the US Weekly Hot Hollywood Party at the Opera nightclub Hollywood, California:

Hot he looked in deed. His official site ChrisBrownWorld wants you to help them pick the cover for his new album Exclusive but BOTH covers suck to me. They could have at least given us more variation. Meh.

Mary J Blige also attended the event:

Mary and Keyshia Cole are rocking similar hair styles now. Who OWNS it?

Last night, Will.I.Am had an album release party at the W Hotel on September 26, 2007 in Westwood, California. Here's who attended:

Mel B was there looking absolutely fab, and she brought along her hubby Stephen Belafonte for the ride.

Who else was there?

Will.i.am of course, as well as Melody Thornton, Ne-yo and Will.i.am's Black Eyed Peas bandmate Fergie.

Keyshia Cole hosted like the billionth album release after party for "Just Like You" in New York City earlier this week:

A mic and some hot music and Keyshia's there. As I keep saying if you still haven't picked up her hot CD, go get it!

And here is her 106 performance featuring Missy and Lil Kim:

She sang her smash hit Let It Go. Thanks Rap-Up Playa.

A host of celebs came out to celebrate with Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton at her private surprise birthday bash at Les Deux September 25, 2007 in Hollywood, California:

Everybody had fun. Mel turned 23. The birthday girl had a lotta laughs as she chilled out with singers Adrienne Bailon, Omarion, her bandmate Jessica amongst others. Is it me or is her bandmate the spitting image of The Joker? She can pass for the villain's daughter.

Spice Girl Mel B was spotted leaving restaurant "Little Door" - Sept. 25:

I see Mariah and Mel stay popularizing that look. Not a very flattering look. Mel loves her some spandex pants. Don't see the fascination at all. Stay tuned for more.