PREVIEW NEW JAHEIM "ANOTHER ROUND"

LISTEN TO PREVIEW AND ORDER ON AMAZON.COM

NEW ERYKAH BADU ALBUM

Per Rapup, will be out in February

RNB PERFECTION: TAMIA, DEBORAH COX AND KELLY PRICE TO MAKE A COLLABO ALBUM

Tamia, Deborah Cox and Kelly Price, who together form the new female super group The Queen Project, have spoken out about the current state of R&B today and what they want to do to bring it back.

I don't even need to hear a single, just tell me where to purchase.

RIHANNA THE RIBO IS STRUGGLING TO MAKE TOP 5 ON ALBUMS CHART

Def Jam will have to do more than just sell Rihanna's bare naked arse along with her $1 cd's for this sinking ship to resurface. HitsDoubleDaily has updated is chart posting to say that not only has she been outsold by the britain's got talent and american idol 2nd place winners (among others who are selling their cd's for regular price), but another "noname" Andrea Bocelli's Christmas album is outpacing her to now leave her with a probable #6 spot on this week's hot 100 album chart. She's already failed to make top 15 on the UK charts.

The plan now is to release a video for "Hard" f/ Jeezy but instead of using the director she's used for her last few videos, Def Jam has enlisted Melina who is best known for her work with Beyonce (Diva, Get Me Bodied etc) and Ciara (Go Girl Work etc).

RIHANNA BEHIND THE SCENES

I must say what stands out is the Love Sex Magic catsuit and the Diva mannequins. Also, her sassy energetic attitude can go both ways as far as interpretation. I'll leave it at that.

Apparenty Def Jam will release a compilation of her previous 3 cds on December 15th.

CHRIS BROWN "GRAFFITI" ALBUM COVER

CIARA IN BRAZIL AND 4TH ALBUM NEWS

As usual she kilt it.

This weekend producer Trickey Stewart spoke about his process working with Ciara on her 4th album due early next year. Trickey will serve as executive producer along with writing parter Dream and Ciara herself (he is doing the entire project). So far, he says they have about 14 songs in and are still recording.  He noted that he is trying to get a single out before the end of the year and that everything is coming along very well.

Rapup had the exclusive interview.

IT'S RIHANNA BISHES

THE WAIT IS OVA, and Rihanna returns with her first single from he thrid album “Rated R” in stores and online Tuesday, November 23rd.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO RUSSIAN ROULETTE

At first listen I'm like "that's it" after 3 listens I'm reading into the lyrics and such and this perhaps is a reflection of the dark place she was in when she got busted upside the head...like she was going to die...like this relationship is like russian roulette...that must be it. I'm going with that theory in wish case it's a great reflection of life and emotion in art. I hope she's not that depressed. Good job Neyo. Am I giving her too much credit? I think I like this.

The video will premiere on ABC TV

**UPDATE** Upon 4th listen, i'm over it

50 CENT AND CHRIS BROWN WITH NEW LEADING LADIES

50 shot a video for his new single for his upcoming album "Before I Self destruct" due November 23rd and showcases Kelly Rowland as the leading lady. Look at the two getting cozy. Hmm mmm.

Chris Brown shot a second video for his upcoming album "Graffiti" due in December 2009 with leading lady Cassie in the flick. This should be interesting

RAPUP CIARA NEW ALBUM EXCLUSIVE

Ciara has been laying low as of late, but for good reason. The R&B singer is well into recording her fourth album and we’ve got the exclusive details.


Christopher “Tricky” Stewart and his songwriting partner The-Dream have been secretly spending the summer in the studio producing the entire follow-up to Ciara’s Fantasy Ride. Stewart broke the news to Rap-Up.com in an exclusive interview. “We’re doing the whole project,” he reveals. “We’re pretty good into it at this point. We’re about 14 songs deep right now.”

The 23-year-old ATLien relocated to the West Coast to work on the album with Tricky and Dream, who crafted “High Price” and “Like a Surgeon” off this year’s Fantasy Ride. “She came out to L.A. to work with us. We’re out here making this record ’cause it feels good and the vibe is good,” says the Grammy-winning producer.

The as-yet-untitled effort will feature danceable tracks that have become Ciara’s signature. “This record obviously is gonna have tempo to it, but I think it’s gonna have even more substance than the last record,” Tricky discloses. “She dances and we always want to bring out what she does that other people don’t.”

Although Fantasy Ride boasted collaborations with a who’s who of the industry including Justin Timberlake, Chris Brown, and Ludacris, the “Love Sex Magic” singer will be riding solo this time. “This album we wanted to take a few steps back and make it more about her, so the only feature is Dream. But the features that we do on this record will be remixes.”

The hitmaker even shared a couple song titles with Rap-Up.com. “I love ‘Speechless.’ I love this record called ‘Gifted.’ Those are two of my favorites. ‘Speechless’ is the record with her and Dream together.”

While there’s still the possibility of a release by the end of the year, it’s looking like 2010 will mark Super C’s return. “It’s a little up in the air, but there’s a chance that it might come this year. That was the goal, but at the same time, we didn’t want to rush anything. I think it’s looking more like a next year thing.”

Ciara is pulling out all the stops to make this her best work yet. “Right now, she’s on her grind, coming back, trying to make a better album than she made last time and get back to that mark where everybody knew that she was in the top tier of the female business.”

CI GETS INTERNATIONAL PROMO

WINO SAYS 'NO, NO, NO' TO EMINEM

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The Real Slim Shady rapper, whose new track We Made You hits shops on Monday, asked Amy to feature on his next album Relapse, out next month.

He reckoned the Rehab singer could help him repeat the success of his superhit Stan, which topped charts around the world in 2000.

Key to its brilliance was the contribution of Amy’s fellow Londoner DIDO, whose song Thank You provided its backbone.

Eminem wanted Amy to work similar magic for him — but the beehived one had other ideas.

My source says: “Amy was flattered by the offer. She loves hip-hop and is a big fan of Eminem. But she didn’t feel it was the right thing to do at the present time.”

Another insider adds: “Eminem has followed Amy’s career closely. They have both had drug addiction issues and he empathises with her and hoped to feature her on Relapse.

“His idea was to make a track as magical as Stan. But unfortunately Amy declined.

“He understands that recently she hasn’t been in a state to focus on music because of her tumultuous private life but he hopes they will get together on a future project.”

GAGA IS QUEEN

Not only did both her singles make it to #1 in the US (which was last done by Christina on her first album), in the UK Lady GaGa has scored a rare chart double this week (April 5) as her debut album 'The Fame' claims the number one spot in the albums chart alongside her number one single, 'Poker Face'.

50 TO RELEASE 2 ALBUMS THIS YEAR AND OPEN FOR FALL OUT BOY ON TOUR

MTV Shows

IS AMERIE DEF JAM'S NEW RIHANNA?

Amerie's Def Jam debut is due for release this summer. The Take Control singer has been hard at work flying to and from Miami , LA, Atlanta and New York to work with various big name music producers. Thus far Salaam Remi , Dallas Austin , Sean Garret, Bangladesh ,Tricky Stewart, Chad Beatz and Adonis have been confirmed. The set will be executive produced by grammy award award winning producer Bryan Micheal Cox. Def Jam reps. claim that things are in place to take Amerie's career up a notch using a marketing scheme similar to that used to make Rihanna the household name she is now.The first single will primiere in Sring 2009

ALBUM COVER?

Die for Cheek Bones. Sick mug with the intense eyes. Love the smooky thing going on. I guess that's the "fantasy." I was expecting her to do something on a car or bike but I guess you can expect the unexpected this go round with Cici. Now I want the tracklisting.

Album Fantasy Ride pushed up from May 19 to May 5. Single Never Ever still climbing the charts and new single Love Sex Magic is the most added song on pop radio. Media insiders say this may be Ciara's biggest hit yet.

Haters get on the job.

WAYNE'S ROCK ALBUM PUSHED BACK TO MAY 19TH

When you’re a bonafide star, you pretty much get your way. Unless of course your way could possibly get in the way of the cash flow that is.

Recently it was announced that Lil Wayne’s rock album, “Rebirth”, had been pushed back from April 7th to May 19th. He announced his plans to do an entire rock n roll album in addition to the release of the Carter V early this year, much to the surprise of his loyal fans who are used to hearing him stick to rapping.
Well now word is that this was not just a standard push back but a direct signal from Wayne’s record label, Universal, that they are not rocking with him on this project.

The Carter III was the top selling album of the year and pretty much Universal Music’s cash cow of last year. They want to do everything to keep Wayne in the top position he is in right now and avoid anything that could knock him from that spot.

Word is the top brass at Universal think that this rock album would be a failure and would make the rap world look at Wayne even more sideways than most of us already do. People reports top execs at Universal have tried to talk to Wayne several times and explain to him that this album is not a reality, but of course those convos are to no avail.

Word is that they let his manager, Cortez Bryant, know that if Wayne doesn’t brighten up they have to turn into Mr. Evil Record Company and just tell him it’s never going to be released.

CIARA PROMO FOR 'LOVE SEX AND MAGIC"

I guess they will promote 2 singles at the same time because pop has picked up the song and cannot stop playing it. LSM to crossover and Never Ever to urban. Lets go:



On the set of the LSM video shoot, Ciara and JT's manager Johnny Wright gives a peak. Janet will not be happy about this. Yet another reason she will never like you Ciara.

NEW CIARA F/ JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE VIDEO

Word is Ciara and Timberfake are scheduled to film a video together this weekend. I'm assuming this will be her first single in Europe. More details to come...

**UPDATE**

per rapup.com

Ciara and Justin Timberlake will put their best feet forward when the two dance machines team up for Ciara’s new single, “Love and Sex and Magic.”

Rap-Up.com has exclusively learned that the Zomba labelmates will shoot a video for the song on Friday in New York with director Diane Martel, who helmed the clips for “Promise” and “Like a Boy.”

The Timberlake-produced track will appear on Ciara’s third album Fantasy Ride, scheduled for release this spring.

**UPDATE**

CLICK HERE FOR SONG

DAAAAAAAAMN. It looks like Jive has decided to spend all of Teeth Brown's advance on Ciara videos. Is the new strategy to release all the singles with videos but no other promo before putting out the album? They spittin videos/singles like the Octimom pushes babies.

3 weeks after releasing her first single "Never Ever" Jive puts out Ci f/ Timberfake "Love Sex & Magic" as the 2nd single. It was only a matter of time before the 2 falsetto singing/loving artists got together. The 2 share a manager. The demo was on youtube already.

The beat is similar to his sound on his last album, specifically "Sexy Ladies." It gives that 80's Time/Prince retro funk vibe. I guess pop will eat this up. Her current "Never Ever" is slowly climbing the urban charts and goes for ads to impact crossover on March 2nd. It's already impacted in Sweden and Germany even though that was not targeted. On March 2nd this new single with Justin goes to the European market. The video is being shot today and tomorrow. I guess that's what this single is for. Her negro base will not appreciate this.

After about 3 listens at high volume, I understand why they released it. Besides the fact that Timberfake is a international crossover magnet, the song has an eclectic sound. He wrote this and produced it for Ciara.

This experimental thing Ci is doing is out of control. I should applaud her audacity to truly give us sounds out of her comfort zone. We all know Ci could easily put out a crunk hip hop record and get the spins we expect from her. But she refuses to do what we expect from her. We'll see how long this defiance lasts.

NEXT ALBUM UP

After a four-year break between studio albums, three-time Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum Interscope recording group The Black Eyed Peas are back with The E.N.D.. The Black Eyed Peas' fifth studio album is set to arrive June 9, 2009. "Boom Boom Pow," the first new single from the album, will be serviced to Top 40 and Rhythm Crossover radio and clubs.