Chris Brown will release his sophomore album Exclusive in less than a week on Nov. 6th after a few setbacks and lackluster reviews of recent releases. His fan base is huge, so I am sure he is in a good place, but I haven't been blown out of the water with what I've heard. "Kiss Kiss" has grown on me but with it being in the same vain as "Run It" it doesn't take him to a more mature level.

This is a newly leaked track called "Gimme Whatcha Got" featuring Weezy which was produced by Jazzy Pha. He's seems to be straining vocally but I do like the melody and the chorus is pretty hot!

Labels: Check It, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne

Who can forget the dude that put the light skinned brothas on the map? Well the young kids may not know just who Al B. Sure is, but if you ever wondered what he has been up to, EURweb caught up the the former heartthrob...

"And we've got Al B. working on the new album, which is called 'Honey I'm Home.' It's been quite a while, but its coming. Everybody I run in to, from Anthony Anderson to Michael Jackson, are asking me 'When're you going to come with the new album. I really love it and appreciate it. It's about time now. I've lost all the weight and it's time to do it."

He's currently a popular radio show host from 9 am to 12 pm on LA radio station Hot 92.3. It's a job Al B. Sure says he enjoys greatly. By the way, radio and CDs aren't the only mediums he's dabbling in these days.

"Definitely, Hot 92.3 has been a blessing to me. I talk to (millions) of people everyday. I'm definitely keeping the radio gig. But I'm also in a new straight to DVD film with Blair Underwood. It's called 'The Hit' and it's on CodeBlack/Universal. It also stars DeRay Davis and James Russo from 'The Godfather.' It's a nice little joint."

Labels: Queen Latifah

Michael Jackson has decided to make his first major showing in the press with the December issue of Ebony Magazine...Whoever has the task of retouching that cover better stock up on the No-Doze and Coke...

Labels: Michael Jackson

In Daughters of Men, author Rachel Vassel has compiled dozens of stunning photographs and compelling personal essays about African-American women and their fathers. Whether it's a father who mentors his daughter's artistic eye by taking her to cultural events or one who unwaveringly supports a risky career move, the fathers in this book each had his own unique and successful style of parenting. The first book to showcase the importance of the black father's impact on the accomplishments of his daughter, Daughters of Men provides an intimate look at black fatherhood and the many ways fathers have a lasting impact on their daughters' lives.

You can pick up a copy of Daughters of Men: Portraits of African American Women and Their Fathers at your local Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com

Labels: Dreamgirls, Jennifer Hudson

More pushback for the Pussycat Doll-turned-solo...For the third time this fall, Nicole Scherzinger's debut CD is being pushed back again, this time to 2008, confirms Interscope. Her Name is Nicole, originally slated for an Oct. 6 release, was first rescheduled for Nov. 6. Then, facing stiff chart competition from Jay-Z and Chris Brown, it was moved to Nov. 20. Insiders say Scherzinger's team is "rethinking" the roll-out while leaving an option open for more studio time.

Labels: Nicole Scherzinger

Hell yeah, Angie Stone has a shit list too?! Mine is ever growing and you know the B. Diddy stays on the top those lists. Angie talks about her B.Diddy formerly known as Sexual Chocolate, who now goes by Doughboy Angelo and her former label J Records with HHNLive.com:

Angie Stone on what happened with her and D'Angelo:

"Ain't nothin' happen with us. I never really say nothin' negative about him, but he's on my shit list right now."

Angie Stone on whether or not she spoke with D'Angelo following his car accident:

"Of course. I have a son with him, so I had to speak to him. I'm very upset with him these days. I usually uphold him and try to keep him in the best light possible. I'm really not feeling him right now and he really needs to get his shit together."

Angie goes on to discuss her disappointment in her former label J Records releasing a "Greatest Hits" album:

"That was J Records' way of killing my career. All of it was strategically designed to bring closure. When they decide to do that, it wasn't my decision. That was J Records saving money and saying, 'You know what? We're not gonna spend a lot of money on this album, so let's do a greatest hits.' That was the prelude to the kiss of goodbye. I asked for a release, but they gave me no choice. Wouldn't you have asked for a release if somebody put out a greatest hits album of you? That means that's the final chapter, right? So if that's what you're trying to tell me, you ain't gotta do it that way. Just let me go...but guess what? I got a call from Clive Davis last week. They changed that tune real quick with a number two record on the charts...about to be number one."

And did Angie take Clive's call?

"I ain't even take the phone call. I listened to the message and laughed. I guess their greatest hits ended there."

Labels: Angie Stone

Mary J Blige's newest album Grown Pains will be released in December, just in time for your Christmas stocking! Check out her chic cover and if you haven't seen the video, which premiered nationally today, you can watch it here.

Labels: Mary J Blige

This young man gets my respect for standing up for his rights and fighting for his justice. He spoke with Essence.com about his fight for justice and his future.

Genarlow Wilson spent New Year's Eve 2003 at a wild hotel bash with a group of fellow teens in Atlanta. After the party which involved sex, alcohol and a notorious videotape he and five other boys were charged with child molestation under a Georgia law that made having oral sex with anyone under 16 a felony. (Since then, the law has been repealed.) Wilson, then 17, had engaged in consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old girl.

Refusing to take a plea deal and be branded a sex offender for life, the honor student and star athlete was slapped with a ten-year prison sentence. He served two years behind bars. On Friday, October 26, hours after the Georgia Supreme Court said his sentence was too harsh, Wilson, now 21, walked out of prison and into the arms of his family.

Here are a few snippets of his first print interview:

ESSENCE.COM: Why were you so intent in fighting your sentence, instead of just taking a plea deal like the other young men did?
WILSON: I couldn't allow myself to be portrayed and be cast aside as a sex offender. I love and adore my little sister, and I want to have kids of my own someday, and as a sex offender you can't be around little kids.

ESSENCE.COM: What's next for you?
WILSON: I'm definitely looking forward to going to college. I want to try to get in as soon as possibleI hope by January, but if not, whenever I can get in and wherever I can go I'll just be grateful for it. I want to major in sociology. I feel like I would fit perfectly in that area just because of my experience and what I've been through.

ESSENCE: Do you feel that your two years in prison was worth making a point and avoiding that label?
WILSON: Yes. And I'm glad that no one else will have to go through what I went through. Maybe one day I might have prevented my son or my nephews or somebody else from getting caught up in a similar situation.

ESSENCE: What was prison like for you? How did the other prisoners treat you?
WILSON: I had a lot of support. But just like you have a lot of support, you always have people against you as well that don't want to see you do good because they're in a bad situation.

Labels: Jay Z, Kelly Rowland, Rihanna

Labels: Jermaine Dupri

Labels: Kim Kardashian

Now ya'll know 50 Cent had Aunt Viv's head all messed up, and now Elise says she was on that Magic Stick too...

“Right now we’re really just cool, but it would be the understatement of the year for me to say it was always just that. “We’re friends enough to where he knows that if we’re doing something I’m not gonna go run and tell. That’s not my personality.”

Read more @ Str8 Outta NYC


Hmmm...makes you look twice at those scenes in 50 Cent's Follow My Lead video, huh?

Labels: 50 Cent, Elise Neal

Labels: John Legend

After seeing Melanie's breakdown of sorts, and Derwin's vigorous efforts to win her back only to mess it up again...Are you Team Melanie? Or Team Derwin? Poor Melanie is taking too many peoples advice and Derwin has to stop trying to be nice to everyone! Malik was on point about Derwin, he cares about Mel, otherwise he would have moved on.


Oh, and how about Musiq working his comedic chops! LOL...I need my check tonight!

Labels: The Game

Labels: I Love New York, Shits and Giggles

Kanye to the...is entering the literary world with a book called Thank You and Your Welcome. I expected it to quite entertaining to say the least! And it's pretty cheap...you can add it to your Christmas wishlist! Reading is fundamental...

It's dope....10 bucks. I teamed up with co-author J. Sakiya Sandifer to make my literary debut with Thank You And You're Welcome!, an entertaining volume of "Kanye-isms "-- the creative, humorous and insightful philosophies and anecdotes used in creating my path to success. It captures the same wit, playful irony, and piercing insight found abundant in my lyrics. In Thank You And You're Welcome! I deliver my personal message uncensored, without any five-second delay or media distortion.

You can pre-order at Kanye's Blog

Labels: Kanye West

After some album pushbacks and a bit of uncertainty, Mario is making a big push for his next release, Go, which is due out December 11th. One thing about Mario is that he made a very seamless move from tween to grown man artist. Check out this exclusive track called "If" which uses the backing of Trey Songz' "Can't Help But Wait."



Sound familiar? A similar, yet more dramatic version, was recorded by Beyonce but hit the cutting room floor of B'Day...You can check out her version here.

Labels: Check It, Mario

Labels: Common, Shits and Giggles

Hmmm...if you believe Page Six, Jennifer Hudson was spotted getting close to a certain football player?!

Vogue's Andre Leon Talley once again got his big fashion paws on "American Idol" alum Jennifer Hudson, squeezing her into a tight gold gown at the Fashion Group International's Night of Star's gala Thursday at Cipriani. The Oscar winner walked the red carpet with Talley, but once inside cozied up to her new man, New York Jets free safety Kerri Rhodes. "He followed right behind her in a separate car, but when they were inside they were holding hands all night and taking trips to the bathroom together," said a spy.

I am going to need Jennifer to let loose Andre, as fashionable as he may make Vogue, he clearly doesn't understand the power of a good girdle! He is notorious for stuffing her in some atrocity. He is still on the shitlist for that Dr. Spock bolero at the Oscars. As for a new beau? Ehhh...I hope she didn't let her high school sweetie go, that would be f*cked up!

Labels: Jennifer Hudson, Kerry Rhodes

Labels: OneRepublic, Timbaland

After kicking off her birthday celebration tour in NYC, and getting serenaded at H2O in Washington D.C. by none other than Sisqo [yup, you read right, Sisqo!] she made her way to her home town of Atlanta, where she rolled up in a '09 Rolls Royce Phantom...I can't even be mad at that! She'll partying it up until Halloween with stops in Miami and ending the tour in the Bahamas!

Labels: Bobby Valentino, Ciara, Ne-Yo