After we’ve got a sneak peek into the recording process on her hit VH1 reality show Fantasia For Real, Grammy-nominated singer Fantasia will release her highly-anticipated third studio album Back to Me on July 27th via J Records. With production and writing credits from Ne-Yo, Claude Kelly, Chuck Harmony, Rico Love, Jim Jonsin and more, this joint is sure to be fire!!!
24-year-old R&B singer Trey Songz delivers “Ready,” his third studio album in four years. Trey has quickly made a name for himself with a couple of hits and a countless amount of appearances on hooks. Songz’s third effort is a great mixture of R&B and Hip Hop slow jams showcasing Trey’s vocal talents. The artistic maturity shines throughout the album as well. And might I say that album cover is looking oh so right!!!
Guest spots are kept down to a minimum with Drake making two appearances, Fabolous coming through, along with Gucci Mane and Soulja Boy. “Neighbors Know My Name,” “Say Aah” and the knocking Gucci Mane and Soulja Boy collaboration “LOL 
” are ultimately big favorites right off the bat. But the Drake-assisted “Successful” really speaks to what this whole album is about.
I am missing tracks like “Brand New” and “In Ya Phone” but “Ready” is definitely what’s up and it’ll be that album that I throw on late at night to chill to. Album in stores and online on MY birthday, August 31st, what a gift!
Buzz so big he could even sell a free mixtape? Drake’s buzz is about to be put to the test commercially.
Before he releases his debut album Thank Me Later, Drake will re-release his popular mixtape, So Far Gone. The album, which will include the hits “Best I Ever Had” and “Successful,” goes to retailers on September 15, according to MTV News. The revamped project will also feature a new song called “Fear,” which will be added to the end of So Far Gone and will serve as the transition from his mixtape to Thank Me Later.
“I did this song that no one has ever heard before, ever,” he told MTV News. “[It's] a song called ‘Fear.’ I recorded it when I did So Far Gone—the first verse and half of the second verse I had gotten through. But then I just stopped because it was getting eerie. It was getting where I didn’t know if I could [finish it]. And then the other night I had a moment and I finished the song. That’s gonna be the last song on the retail [version of] So Far Gone. And the third verse transitions into Thank Me Later. So the last line of the third verse is gonna be the first line on my album.”
Before Ludacris wages war on the charts with his next solo album, Ludaversal, he’s going to battle with his female counterpart Shawnna.
The Disturbing The Peace labelmates are more than halfway done with their joint album, Battle of the Sexes. “We’re about 70 percent done. We’re just finishing up the last couple records,” Luda tells Rap-Up.com. The set features production from Bangladesh, Swizz Beatz, and J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League.
The rapper-turned-actor is branching out and exploring new territory with the unprecedented project. “I’m just trying to make sure that I inject hip-hop in certain things that I feel haven’t been done and give people a fresh face and something new.”
Despite previous efforts, no male and female rappers have recorded an entire album together. “I know that Jay-Z and Foxy [Brown] might have talked about doing it before and maybe Nas and somebody else,” he explains. “But there’s never really been an album with a male rapper and a female rapper together going head-to-head on different issues, mostly relationship issues and just rapping different ways.”
The partners in rhyme had no shortage of topics to talk about on the record. “That’s one of those unlimited issues that people can talk about for days, so we’re just trying to make sure we have as much subject matter as possible and good content and good quality music.”
A first single has yet to be selected, but there are a couple contenders. “We’re always trying to top ourselves. I’m a perfectionist. I’m a Virgo.”
Ludacris and Shawnna’s Battle of the Sexes is scheduled for a November/December release. Info via Rap-Up.com
Whitney Houston was in London this week and revealed the album cover for her anticipated album, I Look To You. She also held a listening session there and they say reviews were generally good.
The new album will hit stores September 1st via Arista Record and is set to have collaborations with Dianne Warren, who penned the first single, “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength,” as well as appearances from R. Kelly, Swizz Beats, Akon and more. Listening sessions will be held in Los Angeles and New York next week.
Jay-Z has mapped out a release date for his long-awaited Blueprint 3 album.
The rap impresario’s eleventh LP will arrive on Sept. 11, according to MTV News. The project will purportedly be released on Warner Music Group, home to T.I., Diddy, Missy Elliott, Kid Rock, and more.
The album’s release date is significant, as it comes eight years to the day of the release of the first Blueprint, and also the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in 2001.
Jay-Z recently parted ways with his longtime label Def Jam. He is working on a deal to bring his Roc Nation venture to Sony Music. Info via Rap-Up.com
T.I. may be gone to prison for the next 366 days, but he didn’t leave without giving us some new music. The King of the South says goodbye for now with his official going away mixtape, A Year and a Day.
Hosted by Hoodrich Entertainment’s MLK, Tip’s “going away present for the streets” will be released on Friday, May 29, with never-before-heard material, including songs from his Paper Trail re-release.
Click below for the tracklisting per Grand Hustle.
People.com have just released the cover art and details of the official re-release of Beyonce’s ‘I Am…’ LP, which is titled ‘Above and Beyonce 
Video Collection and Dance Mixes’. The set will hit shelves in a CD/DVD format in June:
Beyoncé is releasing a new remix album and DVD collection on June 16 called Above and Beyoncé Video Collection and Dance Mixes – and PEOPLE.com has your first look at the cover art.
Among the tracks included on the collection is a remix of her song “Ego” featuring a guest appearance by Kanye West. “The song is fun,” says Beyoncé. “It talks about someone being very confident and having this swagger when they walk and when they talk.”
As for nabbing West, well, Beyoncé says the rapper – known for his outsized personality – was a good match. Recounting her conversation with West, Beyoncé says he agreed to do it, telling her, ” ‘Okay, so you have a song about an ego and you want me on the record?’ He’s like, ‘I love it. I’ll do it.’ ”
Above and Beyoncé will be available at Wal-Mart everywhere and J&R Music stores in New York City beginning June 16.
Tracklisting Below…
Erykah Badu makes her return on August 18 with New Amerykah, Part 2 (Return of the Ankh). The effort is the sequel to last year’s New Amerykah, Part 1 (4th World War). I know my brother’s been waiting on this.
In an interview she did with Austin360.com back in March she gave some detail as to what we can look forward to with Part 2. She says, “Part Two would be the other group of songs which are more right brained and emotional if you will”. When asked will this album be more spiritual than emotional, she had this to say, ” Not only that, but the songs fall in line together. They fit together like a puzzle sonically, how they sound, how they feel. Theme always comes last because what comes first for me is always music and the music kind of inspires what I say”. Can’t wait to hear what Ms. Badu has in store this fall.
Ciara has finally revealed the cover to her much anticipated album release, Fantasy Ride, due out May 5.