The new Britney Spears album cover for ‘Circus’ was just unveiled a few moments ago, as well as the official tracklisting. The album is slated for a Dec 2nd release, which will coincide with Britney’s 27th birthday. Check out the official album cover art for Circus below:

The picture of Britney is absolutely beautiful but the actual design of the CD is horrible. This actually could have been a flawless album cover. The stars around it make it look tacky and the three different coloured borders is overkill. The font and the way it’s positioned is pretty hideous at that. Yes, I see the Circus influence but it could have come across much better and neater. The content of the CD may be more important but the actual packaging plays an essential part as well. As for the tracklisting, I’m not understanding why ‘Radar’ is added as a bonus track. Unless it’s a new remix of the sort I’m quite lost on that one. Why include a song that was already a main album cut for ‘Blackout’? The second single from Circus has been confirmed and it will be the album track ‘Circus’. Britney has shot the video for it already, but it’s not known when the video for it will premiere.

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As reported previously, Toni Braxton’s new album will be released at the top of 2009 on Atlantic Records. The first single from the project has also been unveiled and it is called ‘Just Loose’, according to Jet magazine. The Darkchild-produced single is expected to impact radio next month. Source.

There’s not much I can say until I actually hear the song (which is soon I hope) but I do anticipate a brand new Toni record despite the fact that the 42-year-old hasn’t really impressed me since ‘Secrets’. Whilst her 2005 release ‘Libra’ was a good effort, it was nothing groundbreaking to what I know Toni is capable of. I hope she brings back some of that classic Toni on the new project.

Leona Lewis covers the latest October 2008 issue of Evening Standard magazine, and looks absolutely amazing. It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted a Leona spread:

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Gorgeous photoshoot. She looks just like her mama in that second picture. The 23-year-old who has been promoting her latest single ‘Forgive Me’ in the UK also performed the track on UK breakfast show GMTV this morning (Oct 31st). The performance and interview is after the fold.

You can also listen to a 30-second snippet of ‘Run’ - not the live version but the actual STUDIO version which has never been heard before.

The studio version of ‘Run’ will feature on her re-released Deluxe Edition of ‘Spirit’ which will drop in the UK on Nov 17th.

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This is some funny ish right here. These pictures of Mariah Carey and her husband Nick Cannon at their Halloween party last night had me cracking the HELL up. The couple were spotted dressed as fire fighters on a Fire Truck to their Halloween Party at Club Marquee in midtown, Manhattan:

Then they partied it up with the likes of Mariah’s old pal Busta Rhymes among others and even switched up their costumes. The other costume saw Mariah dressed as Famous Amos cookies whilst Nick was dressed, as well, the milk. The jokes just write themselves. But these two certainly bring out the fun and charasmatic side of each other. And that’s definetely a good thing! In other Mariah news, the singer has reportedly signed up for the X-Factor and will perform her latest new single ‘I Stay In Love’ on November 8th. That is next week. Britney Spears is billed for Nov 29th and Beyonce is billed for Dec 16th but will perform on Strictly Come Dancing a week earlier. There’s one more Mariah picture after the cut.

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Earlier today (October 31st) Beyonce and her younger sister Solange Knowles got together for a promotional appearance in Tokyo, Japan. The gorgeous Knowles sisters were spotted at the trendy Eight Million fashion shop in the Ginza district as they posed it up for the paparazzi:

They were also there to promote their Samantha Thavasa handbag range, as well as their new pop singles. Reportedly, Beyonce and Solange are on a wistle-stop 72-hour tour of Japan. Beyonce was looking extra bootylicious in what looked like a turquoise-coloured Herve Leger dress. The two sisters are reportedly embarking on an international tour together next year when Beyonce tours for new album ‘I Am’, so expect to see much of those two together in the days, weeks and months to come. Hmmm, I see Solange is finally giving up on trying to distance herself from her sister. I knew she would not have been able to keep up the facade for long, lol.

Beyonce flew into Japan yesterday morning to kickstart her promotional blitz for new album ‘I Am’. Lucky Japan got the FIRST EVER performance of her latest new single ‘If I Were A boy’ (which entered at no 3 in the Billbard chart this week). The 27-year-old superstar performed the track on Japan’s Music Station:

That was a damn near flawless performance. She absolutely nailed it, vocally, spiritually, emotionally, passionately, soulfully. Amazing. It was just effortless. I was mesmerized throughout the whole four minutes and a bit. I almost got emotional my damn self after watching that, and I just hate to admit things like that. Honestly. Cracking stuff.

Keyshia Cole premiered her brand new video ‘Playa Cardz Right’ last night on BET. The lead single is taken from her forthcoming new album ‘A Different Me’, which is set to hit stores on Dec 16th. Check it out below:

Despite it’s ‘dated-ness’, I really like the track but let’s face it; to use a track that’s two years old isn’t the best way to kickstart a comeback (not that she was ever gone. She only release her 2nd album ‘Just Like You’ last year). I’ve seen quite a few tribute Tupac vids but seeing Tupac’s mama in the vid makes it all the more genuine. Still, Keyshia never fails to bring the hotness with her records. Alongside Brandy and Beyonce, I’m anticipating this new album just as much.

These Sasha Fierce promo’s just keep coming and coming. And won’t stop either. And as she’s releasing a double disc, I get the feeling there’s loads more to come. By the end of today, I’m sure a couple more will end up surfacing. Anyway, another hot one from the woman you call Ms Beyonce Knowles-Carter:

I actually saw this last night but didn’t feel all that compelled to post it. For me, it was like “Oh, another Beyonce promo”. The Beyonce overkill is kind of getting to me already, and we haven’t even heard the rest of her new music or seen a single performance (and that 30-second ‘Single Ladies’ stint at Jay-Z’s gig this week don’t qualify). Anyway, new Beyonce candids after the jump.

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Last night, Pussycat Dolls spin-off group Girlicious premiered their brand new video ‘Baby Doll’, the second single from their debut album ‘Girlicious’. Previously they released the double A-Side single ‘Like Me/Stupid Shit’. It’s been a while but at least it proves they’re still around, lasting a lot longer than I expected:

The video was very Doll-ish if I say so myself. A poor man’s PCD without a doubt, even the choreography. The song is cool, though there are MUCH better tracks on their album. Speaking of which, their debut album was very solid. They surprised me. It certainly spits on the new PCD album which was short of garbage in my opinion. I still have that Girlicious album on my Zen, surprisingly enough. Their album was released in Canada as that is where they’re the most successful but a US release date has yet to be announced. In December, Girlicious will re-release their debut album as a limited deluxe edition in Canada as well. This was confirmed by Universal Music Canada. So what happened to the US release? Yet Canada is getting re-releases and shat. Funny.

This week, Ginuwine talks to Billboard about his forthcoming new album which will be released early next year on Notifi Records. Apparently, this will be a distribution through Warner Bros. On the new album, Ginuwine is working with Tank (who is executive producing the record), former Next singer RL and Harold Lilly Jr among others. He reveals: “Everything is still in the works,” Ginuwine tells Billboard.com. “I don’t want to rush anything. I’m just working on various songs and definitely hoping to work with others like Polow da Don and Timbaland. However, at this point I can say the music will reflect a maturing Ginuwine. I’m not the same young man I was when I first got into music”. I can’t believe Ginuwine was only 21 when he first debuted with ‘Pony’ (1996). I remember that song like it dropped yesterday! None of the albums he’s released has even touched ‘The Bachelor’ which is one of my favourite albums of all time (on my old blog it was featured in my Hot R&B Collection). It seems Tim’s best work was with Aaliyah and Ginuwine during the mid 90’s era (96 and 97). I really hope they can recapture that magic again.

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Dawn (of Danity Kane) and Que (of Day 26) joined in on the Halloween festivities on Wednesday night. Dawn had a ‘From Dusk Till Dawn Halloween’ party which went down at Plumm in New York City:

Wow Dawn. Mama always told me if I aint got nuddin nice to say, don’t say nuddin at all. Right about now I’ll be kind enough not to contaminate anyone with my thoughts. Michael Jackson also got caught up in the trick or treating moment as well. See more after the fold.

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On Oct 29th, my girl Joss Stone attended the Hard Rock Café in London for the launch of the Serve3 benefit album. The singer is part of Hard Rock’s 2008 global “Imagine There’s No Hunger” campaign:

The singer also refutes reports that she’s abandoned Britain for the United States: “Contrary to what is written about me I have not moved to the States. I still live in Devon and have done since I was eight. I get homesick for the place even if I’ve been away for two weeks.” The singer has previously spent a lot of time over in the Syates recording her albums with top producers such as Raphael Saadiq. Speaking of albums, a new one is well overdue. Her last album was simply wonderful.

Earlier today in London (Oct 30th), thousands of shoppers gathered together to see Leona Lewis perform at the grand opening of the Westfield shopping centre in London. This is now one of Europe’s largest urban shopping malls which opened in London today. The star who was rocking a lacy black dress, performed five songs including Better In Time, Forgive Me and Bleeding Love:

She told the crowd: “I’m so excited to be here because, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m a bit of a shopaholic and I’m performing back in London, which I’m really excited about. So this is the perfect venue for me”. What are the odds that her latest single ‘Forgive Me’ will hit the no 1 spot against Beyonce, Britney and Christina Aguilera?