R&B superstar Usher Raymond recently spoke up about his new role as a husband and father as well as his next album, which may feature a special guest appearance from the “King of Pop” himself, Michael Jackson.

In a recent interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Usher revealed his plans to release a new album by Spring of 2008.

“I’ve been diligently working on creating a masterpiece,” the singer said. “It’s going to be out first or maybe the second quarter. And there will be a video and single out at the top of the year.”

So far Usher is planning to drop “Love In The Club,” which was produced by Polow Da Don, as the album’s lead single. Fans may also be treated to a collaboration between Usher, Michael Jackson and T-Pain - however the details are still being worked out.

“It’s been created, but it’s not recorded,” Usher admitted. “As long as Michael is open to it, hey, anything goes!”

A newlywed father, Page Six reports previously blamed album delays on Usher’s new wife, Tameka Foster-Raymond. The couple tied the knot this August and welcomed the birth of their first child together, son Usher Raymond V, in November.

“I’m really like super dad,” Raymond told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I really cook for the family. … Now I basically do chicken and broccoli and steamed vegetables, because I’m on this diet. But believe me, I can fry some chicken too . . . I really clean up. I walk the dog, myself. I burp the baby. I change the diapers. I’m super dad. And it’s only begun!”

Usher and his wife have yet to publicly release any photos of the child, however his new role as a father has also encouraged a budding photography hobby.

“I’ve become an instant photographer,” Usher said. “Developing them and everything.”

An official release date for Usher’s upcoming as-yet-untitled project has not been released.

SOURCE

If its half hot as Confession it’s gonna be dope!

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Sean “Diddy” Combs, who got his first taste of the entertainment business nearly two decades ago while throwing parties at Howard University, will be honored next month with a star on the world famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.

SixShot.com reports that Diddy broke the news on Friday, Dec. 21 during a call in on Jamie Foxx’s Sirius radio show, The Foxxhole. According to the Bad Boy mogul, his ceremony will take place on Jan. 11th.

“I’m from Harlem New York, so to get a star in Hollywood is just mind-blowing,” Diddy said. “You can get a lot of things but when you see those stars on the ground…that’s something I can’t even say I dreamed of and to be getting recognized for it is definitely something I’m gonna have my whole family out there for,”

Diddy’s star dedication will precede his Feb. 25 debut as Walter Lee Younger in the ABC telefilm, “A Raisin in the Sun.” The artist previously played the role in the stage version that ran on Broadway in 2004.

SOURCE

Money, cars, jewels, women, mansions and now a star… I’M RICHER BITCH!!

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This should be the cover for the controversial album dropping in February. I bet it’s a fake, it’s too soon for a cover but who knows.

Any thoughts?

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It was an eventful week on the charts for Hip-Hop and R&B with Alicia Keys continuing to prove that “No One” can keep her from breaking records, Mary J. Blige hitting the board at No. 2 and Lupe Fiasco and Chingy making noteworthy debuts.

Alicia Keys’ As I Am slipped to No. 3 on the charts, even with an incredible 62% sales jump. The monster release went double platinum in just six weeks, selling 474,000 copies and 2,350,000 units overall. The songstress beat out Kanye West who’s Graduation album sold only 1,848,500 discs after 15 weeks.

Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. had the only debut album to crack the top 10. The star’s ninth album, Growing Pains sold 629,000 copies, according to Nielsen’s SoundScan, for the No. 2 spot.

Jaheim debuted this week with his first release under Atlantic, The Makings of a Man. The album moved 176,000 units at No. 11.

Lupe’s sophomore effort Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool took No. 15 with 143,000 sales

Hate It or Love It, Chingy debuted at No. 84 this week, moving 31,450 units.

SOURCE

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We’ve known that Jay-Z will step down from the top spot at Def Jam since he made the announcement on Monday. The question now is, once President Carter bows out from rap’s Oval Office — effective Monday, for those keeping score at home — who will Island Def Jam Music Group Chairman L.A. Reid appoint to fill Hov’s shoes, if anyone?

The rumors that either Jermaine Dupri, Jimmy “Henchman” Rosemond or Damon Dash will become the new CEO/president of Def Jam have been swirling around almost as long as the ones about Jay-Z leaving his post. But while the latter rumors have become a reality, the former ones haven’t come to fruition yet.

JD is already in the same building as Def Jam, serving as the president of Island Urban Music, which is under the Universal umbrella. In fact, when the Atlanta producer came onboard, before his position was identified, Jay suggested the two serve as co-presidents of Def Jam.

Rosemond’s name has been tossed in the executive ring ever since JD left Virgin Records. The word was that Rosemond would replace Dupri at Virgin, before rumors put him in the big chair over at Def Jam.

And perhaps the most talked-about scenario — and clearly the most controversial — placed Jay-Z’s friend-turned-foe Dash at the head of the house that Russell Simmons built.

Here, MTV News provides a list of other potential candidates, along with a few looooong shots, who could land the coveted Def Jam presidency:

Read the rest of this entry »

I just wrote about Omarion statement about the Chris Stokes accusation of molestation and now I come across this video of Raz-B, the accuser, that retracts and apologizes to Chris Stokes and the others and says the videos were made without his authority.

He cant even look in the camera. Where is the truth now? Was he pressured to make this video? We will never get the answers I guess.

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These two guys are appearing alot on this blog lately, of course not for the right things.

The first one was just owned by a magazine and the second one is in the middle of a child molestation scandal, not in first person tho (yet).

Anyway they just premiered the second video off their crappy collabo cd Face Off which sold, so far, like 110,000 units, that in my opinion are way too much.

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Omarion released a statement about the accusation of molestation made by former B2K member Raz-B and his brother Ricardo Thorton against Chris Stokes who denied them. It reads:

“I want to be on the record as saying that “Raz B” Thorton and Ricardo
Thorton are lying regarding Chris Stokes. Chris is a father figure to
myself, and many others in the industry. He’s guided us, helped raised us
and is nothing more than an inspiration and someone I respect to and look
up to. I have spent countless hours, days, weeks and months with the man
since the age of 5 and have never once seen him behave inappropriately.
He’s married to my aunt and I know this man very well. I stand behind him
with no question whatsoever,” said Omarion.

“I have grown up around Chris and this is crazy to me. These people
have damaged me, and my reputation and I won’t stand silent and will do all
within my means to speak the truth about this matter.”

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Someone throw some ice on stage and he really fly on the fan.

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The magazine XXL wrote an article about why noone really care about Lil Bow Wow or Bow Wow or Bow Weezy or whatever. He gets really owned by this. It reads:

Dear Bow Wow,

Let me preface this by saying, I actually like you and even some of your music. I also predict that when it’s all said and done you’re gonna have an LL/Will Smith-like career. You seem in it for the long haul. But no one is recognizing it. So what do you do? You act a fool. So in turn, you get no respect. But there’s still some other reasons too, homie. Peep game.

The 26 reasons why Bow Wow gets no respect after the jump! Read the rest of this entry »

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Lil Kim comes back with a mixtape presented by Mister Cee and Whoo Kid.

Download it HERE or HERE

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Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter will step down as Def Jam Records president when his contract expires this year, he and Universal Music Group announced today (Dec. 24). The rapper will continue to record for Roc-A-Fella, the label he co-founded in 1996, which is part of the Universal-distributed Island Def Jam Music Group.

In a statement announcing his departure, Jay-Z acknowledged the artists and executives he had worked with during his three years as label president, including IDJ chairman/CEO Antonio “L.A.” Reid.

He added, “It’s time for me to take on new challenges. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to build upon the Def Jam legacy, helping to move the company into a new era of artistic success.”

Reid stated, “Jay made it clear to us that he feels the time has come to take on different challenges in his life. While we regret his decision to move on, we certainly respect it … While he will continue to be one of our signature artists, he will nonetheless be missed in this executive capacity.”

In an interview earlier this month with Billboard, Jay-Z said any decision about his future with Def Jam would not be “about money.” It’s really about trying to invest in the future, trying to invest in maybe coming up with a new model. Because going in hard making records with artists and throwing those records into a system that’s flawed is not exciting for me.”

“It’s not the music; people ingest music the same way. It’s just that the model of selling CDs has changed,” he continued. “So doing things the typical way is not in the best interests of anyone and not exciting for me. My whole thing is, how do we invest in the future? If everyone is committed to doing that, then I’m sure there’s a deal to be made.”

SOURCE

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Chirs Stokes, former B2K manager, has issued a response to the claims of child molestation made by Raz-B and his brother. Stokes says the two have alterior motives.

As SOHH previously reported, a few video clips surfaced on the internet in the midst of talks surrounding a B2K reality show that would feature Raz-B, Lil’ Fizz, and J-Boog. On one clip, Raz (born DeMario Thornton) is on the phone breaking the news to the family of Marques Houston, who is also a protege of Chris Stokes. “It started one day when Chris said, ‘Let me touch you,’” Raz-B explains. He says he was only 11 or 12 years-old at the time.

Stokes issued a statement today, in which he says the claims of molestation “hold no merit.” He went on to say the two may be motivated by money. “I have recently stopped financially supporting both individuals along with assisting them with their criminal and legal matters which leads me to believe they are resentful and looking to benefit financially from this.”

On another clip, Raz’s brother Ricardo “Ricky Romance” Thornton tells his side. “Chris made me take showers with the other boys,” he said. “All that little sh-t that my brother was introduced to was brought to me first and I blocked that sh-t.”

Ricardo went on to say, “I kinda knew what was going on over there and yet I took my brother over to Chris. I didn’t protect him.”

Stokes says these statements have “slandered” him and that he will “take all legal routes to protect myself, my family and my four children.”

He further dismisses the accusations by pointing to an incident that took place a short time ago. “It’s also quite ironic that these statements were made only 2 weeks after they were denied admittance by a venue for an event I hosted in Beverly Hills.”

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