Alicia Keys discusses the concept for her second music video ‘Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart’, lifted from her forthcoming new album ‘The Element of Freedom’ (to drop on December 15th). She compares the video to Will Smith’s Hancock and X-Men’s Rogue because she has a superpower to heal the sick or injured but her ability comes with a curse - she cannot be with the one that she truly loves - hence sleeping with a broken heart. Watch the footage below:

Alicia sure loves playing the hero in her music videos, but it sounds like a good concept. I look forwards to it.

Two new songs from Robin Thicke’s new album ‘Sex Therapy’ (out on Dec 15th) has hit the Net this week. The Jay-Z assisted-‘Meiplé (Me I Play’) and the Nicki Minaj-assisted ‘Shakin’ It for Daddy’ can be listened to below. Just hit up the audio below:

‘Meiplé (Me I Play)’
Thicke emphasises his love of french girls, champagne and the glamourous lifestyle in the addictively funky ‘Meiple’. The Neptunes-produced track which premiered on Hot 97 yesterday is both lighthearted and fun. Adding to the fact that it cleverly samples Brigitte Bardot’s ‘Moi Je Joue’. The rapper even references wife Beyonce being the black version of the iconic French pin-up. With the song comprising of some witty verses and a catchy composition, Meiple is that nice little groove you can chill to in your ride. Rating: 3/5

‘Shakin’ It for Daddy’
Thicke has ditched his organic oldschool steez for a harder hip-hop-inflected offering. As a talented artist known to churn out a song with great lyrical content, this is quite sordid and tacky. Musically, it’s very contrived and this particular style does not compliment him at all. Between this and Usher’s ‘Daddy’s Home’, I don’t even know which one sounds the worst. Rating: 2/5

Yesterday was another day on the set of Mariah Carey’s forthcoming music video for ‘H.A.T.E.U’. In the first batch of pics, Mariah was looking a little heavier than usual and rocking a very questionable revealing swimsuit on a Malibu beach. This time, she was fully clothed and all glammed up for the shoot, which this time, took place in New York City. Peep some photos below:

G-l-a-m is the word. This shoot must serve as ‘candy bling’ to MC as she’s looking like a very polished version of her usual self. And considering that she’s been vocal all this week about the director of ‘Precious’ making her look dowdy, unattractive gritty and rugged, this is a look Mariah can only be too happy with. We prefer this look too. Picture source.

In an emotional interview with Good Morning America (aired on last night’s 20/20), Rihanna opened up her whole heart about the night in February when ex-boyfriend Chris Brown left her bruised and battered. In the Larry King interview, Breezy refused to reveal what had triggered the attack. However, Rihanna confirmed to Diane Sawyer that an argument over a text message from another girl is what led to the assault. The singer recalls how Breezy had “no soul in his eyes” on the night he attacked her. The most powerful statement of all was the “Eff love” (f*ck love) line emphasising that young women like herself and others should not be blinded by love. Watch the first part below and the other four parts after the jump:

This interview was very candid and a lot more revealing than I anticipated. Rihanna answered EVERY question thrown her way, which may have garnered her a new level of respect. The gorgeous singer revealed what was going on in her head that night as well as many of the things he did to her. In a shocking twist, she reveals that just like Breezy, she witnessed domestic violence in her childhood when her father would beat up her mother. She was very tearful in parts but she expressed herself very well.

I know a lot of people are going to question her timing. They’re going to say she’s only choosing to speak out now because she has a new album coming out in two weeks. With her new music hitting the airwaves, she is now back in the spotlight. People are going to want to hear her side of the story. In that aspect, she may as well kill two birds with one stone. Now that she has spoken, she can move on with her life and continue to enjoy a flourishing career.

The interview however, does not make Breezy look good. As a matter of fact, the interview slayed him so much, his friends on Twitter are spitting blood saying that Rihanna did not tell the full truth. Over the last couple of weeks, Breezy has been doing everything he could to build his career back and now all that hard work may end up unravelling due to Rihanna’s interview. Stay tuned for further Breezy & Rihanna posts throughout the day.

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Chris Brown participated in a sitdown interview with Sway on MTV and apologized once again for assaulting his ex-girlfriend Rihanna last February. Like I stated in my last Chris post, it appears Chris is a little worried about Rihanna’s 20/20 interview which is set to air in over an hours time. In the first clip, Sway also reads the singer’s statement in regards to Rihanna’s remarks on tonight’s 20/20 episode. Chris said on Angie Martinez two weeks ago that he will not be addressing ‘the incident’ but after seeing the damaging clips of Rihanna NOT using the same courtesy he did about keeping the details private, he’s had a change of heart and released like, his millionth statement. I’ve enclosed the whole entire interview below:

Meanwhile, here’s the official statement:

“While I respect Rihanna’s right to discuss the specific events of February 8, I maintain my position that all of the details should remain a private matter between us,” he said in the statement. “I do appreciate her support and wish her the best. I am extremely sorry for what I did, and I accept accountability for my actions. At this point, I am taking the proper steps to learn about me and grow from my mistakes. I only hope that others in similar situations can learn from our experience as well. Abuse of any kind is always wrong. The rest I leave it to God”

Um, yeah. I would pretty much say this statement proves that Breezy is sadly skidding his pants right now: “all of the details should remain a private matter between us” (Er, why?). I don’t get why he’s releasing statements now that Rihanna’s interview is set to rock the boat tonight. Somebody is definetely worried. As I stated previously, Breezy had ALL the opportunities in the world to say exactly what happened and he chose not to. Now that Rihanna is clearly going HARD in this interview a massive uneasiness appears to unsettle him. He should remain silent because he had his say so let Rihanna have hers. I am watching the interview now. Although, everyone is saying it was pointless I’ll likely add more on my thoughts once I’m done watching this.

UPDATE: So I watched the interview and as many stated, it was pointless. He just rehashed the same ish from his Larry King and Angie Martinez interviews. Can we just lay this whole saga to rest and concentrate on the music now?

It’s official! Janet Jackson WILL be performing at this year’s American Music Awards on November 22nd. In my last Janet posting, I stated that the alleged AMA performance should be treated as rumour. But not anymore. Dancer Nico Archambault has given an interview to the Montréal Journal in which he says that the music video for ‘Make Me’ has been completed and features four dancers. Whilst doing so, he also let slip that he will also be joining Janet on stage at the AMAs.

Jennifer Lopez and Janet Jackson are up there among two of the biggest female dancing pioneers in music (alongside Paula Abdal of course). So seeing the two of them up there on that stage schooling the younger artists on how it should be done will be quite the thrilling experience. I know that the whole ceremony will be brimming with straight diva swag and I can’t wait!

Essence magazine is reporting that R&B veteran Toni Braxton has filed divorce from her husband and former Mint Condition singer Keri Lewis after 8 years of marriage. The couple have two children together – Denim (7) and Diezel (6). That’s a shame but I am thinking pressure on their marriage possibly had something to do with their recent financial difficulties. Last months reports stated that Ms Braxton was facing the prospect of losing her home after she defaulted on her mortgage payments, not to mention that she reportedly owed $900,000 in loan payments.

Financial difficulties had mounted last year ever since she scrapped a series of Las Vegas concerts in 2008 when she was diagnosed with a heart problem. As a result, she is currently embroiled in a legal battle with her insurance company, after the firm refused to pay out on the axed shows.

My question is, what the hell does her “producer” husband do to help with these bills? He’s no Tricky Stewart and it’s been an era since he made records with Mint Condition. We know he’s not doing it anymore. It seems she is the one doing all the grinding and hustling with the Vegas shows, Dancing With The Stars and her new album. I can see why she would think to herself under the grounds that “this man is deadbeat. He gots ta go!”

And I know Toni has been enjoying her newfound freedom with a much younger man. That man - being R&B singer Trey Songz - who is featured on the remix version of her new single ‘Yesterday’. The two enjoyed a tongue sarnie at this week’s Soul Train Awards:

I see Toni is going the Whitney Houston route after she divorced deadbeat Bobby Brown. Nothing wrong with having a little fun with a man half your age, even if it is a publicity stunt!

Chris Brown is the featured cover story for YRB’s forthcoming Power issue hitting newsstands next week. His third studio album ‘Graffiti’ is also slated for a December 8th release. Meanwhile, check out the sneak peek look for his YBF photoshoot below:

A grown man Breezy has certainly grown up to be. Those abs are on fire, even if more definition was added via the magic touch of the sexy airbrushing! Plus, it’s not that far of a contrast to how he really looks.

However, everyone knows that Rihanna’s full interview on 20/20 will air tonight. And it looks like Breezy has seen some of the damaging clips circulating. I was not expecting Rihanna to be so open but she is telling E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G and NOT holding back.

Whilst Breezy danced around many of the questions in his Larry King interview due to “respecting shawty’s privacy”, Rihanna is NOT dancing around (pun intended, lol). It’s quite shocking that he has conducted an interview with MTV to address ‘the incident’ once again. It was only two weeks ago, he told Angie Martinez that he would not be discussing the subject again.

Now MTV are putting out a news special titled ‘Chris Brown: The Interview’ which will air today (coincident?) at 6pm on MTV.

Last night, Leona Lewis, Beyonce, Shakira and Joss Stone attended the MTV Europe Music Awards, and hit up the red carpet with their own sense of style. Out of the four diva’s, who do you think looked the hottest? Check out who wore what in the photos below:

Beyonce rocked a cute geometric shaped mermaid dress. Shakira donned a simple but short sequin dress. Leona wore a pair of sequined, high-waisted harem pants with a tight-fitting black tank top. Lastly, Joss wore a silk multi-blue coloured mini dress that had a daringly low V-neck. She completed the look with some lengthy knee-high-boots.

Beyonce’s ‘I Am…Yours’ DVD will hit stores on Nov 23rd, and the first performance from it has leaked. In the leaked footage below, she performs her hit single ‘Halo’. Watch the performance below:

Watch whilst you can because you just know Pimp Daddy Knowles is coming for it. Anyway, as expected, she delivered a spine-chilling vocal performance.

Yesterday, I had lots of fun goading the Beyonce stans after her VERY anticipated music video for new single ‘Video Phone’, (featuring Lady Gaga) ended up cancelled due to the Texas’ Fort Hood tragedy. I know blood pressures were rising high yesterday. People wanted to throw their TV’s out of the window.

Now the video premiere has been postponed to a later date and is expected to premiere later on in the month.

Amerie is certainly doing her best out of the shoe-string promotion she has been given for new album ‘In Love & War’. This week she dropped by BET’s 106 & Park to perform the leading track ‘Why R U’. Watch the performance below:

Another good performance from Amerie and she looked hot. She’s grinding right now, even if these gawd-awful ghetto black shows are the only gigs she can get right now. But hey, low budget promo is better than zero promo right?

JLS are releasing their debut album this coming Monday on UK shores (Nov 9th). Here is the official commercial for it which first aired during last night’s MTV Europe Music Awards. Watch it below:

From X Factor runner-ups to chart topping boy band. And now they’re releasing their first album. The boyband are poised to retake the UK’s coveted No 1 this weekend with their latest single ‘Everybody In Love’. Midweek charts show that the boyband have so far sold an impressive 60K copies of the track. Meanwhile, X Factor judge Cheryl Cole, has held No 1 for the past two weeks after releasing ‘Fight for this Love’ and has sold this week a steady 26K.

Amazingly enough, for the past three weeks, it’s been X Factor territory dominating the charts (Alexandra Burke, Cheryl Cole and now JLS). X Factor alum Leona Lewis is also performing on the show this week so I take it that she’s the next X Factor associate to take the no 1 spot the week after.

This goes to show that the X Factor is a very powerful show because audience are buying it all up, with singles and albums from the performances topping the charts. That said, JLS got to no 1 previously with ‘Beat Again’ WITHOUT the aid of the show so that alone emphasises how they have the power to still see continued success outside of the show.