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J Records new recording artist Emily King turned down tracks that were offered to her by songwriters Sean Garrett (Beyonce, Megan Rochell) and NeYo (Candace Jones, Karina Pasian) because she prefers her own songs instead … However, tracks that were co-written by Floetry’s Marsha Ambrosius and producer Salaam Remi (Amy Winehouse, Shareefa) made it to the final cut … Lead single “Walk In My Shoes” will hit the radios in May, whereas the debut album “East Side Story” will drop in July … Can’t wait!!!

Former American Idol champ Fantasia Barrino will release “When I See You” as the 2^nd single from her sophomore album simply titled “Fantasia”. The track was helmed by new production team Midi Mafia, and co-written by ex-Color Me Badd member Sam Watters, whom along with his wife Tamyra Gray (another American Idol protégé) were responsible for Barrino’s breakthrough hit “I Believe”.

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R&B songstress LeToya Luckett is set to appear on the next album by rapper Mike Jones called "The American Dream", which is due in May and includes additional cameos by Trey Songz and rapper T.I. For those who came in late, this is not the first time she works with Jones as they first collaborated on Luckett's "Gangsta Grillz" as well as the remix to her debut single "Torn". Other rappers LeToya worked with include Nas, Paul Wall, and ex-boyfriend Slim Thug.

LeToya's self titled album was released in July 2006 via Capitol Records, and included additional hits like "She Don't" as well as the radio released "Obvious". Producers include Scott Storch (Toni Braxton, Kelis), Johnathan Rotem (Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez), Jermaine Dupri (Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey), Bryan Michael Cox (Mary J. Blige, Claudette Ortiz), Just Blaze (Mariah Carey, Marsha Ambrosius), Teddy Bishop (Sterling Simms, Aaliyah), The Corna Boyz (Megan Rochelle, Candace Jones), as well as songwriters Tamara Savage (Mario Vazquez, Tracie Spencer), Johnta Austin (Jessica Simpson, Mya), Makeba Riddick (Beyonce, Avant), Clutch members: Keri Hilson (Chris Brown, Pussycat Dolls) and Candice Nelson (Brandy, Jennifer Lopez).

PS. Have you guys seen her brother Gavin? He's mad cute, lol

New R&B girlgroup Missez are currently working on their debut album, which is due sometime this year via Interscope Records. Their debut single "Love Song" failed to make an impact in the charts, so they're back with a new track called "Hangover", which was produced by Bryan Michael Cox (Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans) and co-written by Clutch members: Candice Nelson (Brandy, Jennifer Lopez) and Ezekiel Lewis (Fantasia, Keshia Chante).

Check it out on their official MySpace!

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As it was previously reported, British pop star Natasha Bedingfield is putting the final touches on her upcoming sophomore album, and it will be preceded by the lead single “I Wanna Have Your (Babies)”, for which the video has been recently shot in L.A. with director Dave Meyers. The new set also sports collaborations with Steve Kipner (Christina Aguilera, Kelly Rowland), Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, Greg Kurstin (All Saints, Sophie Ellis Bextor) and none other than Nate Hills, who’s also working on the next albums by Britney Spears, Keri Hilson and Trey Songz.

Singer/songwriter Solange Knowles wrote a new message on her official MySpace telling us that she’s currently working on her sophomore album which is best described as downbeat electronica with 70s soul. Some of the artists that influenced her while recording the album include Zero 7, John Legend and Gnarls Barkley. She also mentioned working with R&B crooner Bilal, who previously worked with her sister Beyonce on the Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis produced “Everything I Do”. There’s no word on who are the other collaborators on the album, but I’m expecting the likes of producers Swizz Beatz (Fantasia, Jojo) and Bryan Michael Cox (Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey) since she already worked with them by co-writing Destiny’s Child’s “Bad Habit” as well as Beyonce’s “Get Me Bodied” and “Upgrade U”.

Solange’s debut album “Solo Star” was released in January 2003, and boasted hits like “Feelin’ U”, as well as collaborations with producers Linda Perry (Christina Aguilera, Goapele), Rockwilder (Yummy Bingham, Kelis), Damon Elliot (Mya, Pink), Timbaland (Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado), The Underdogs (Ruben Studdard, Jennifer Hudson), The Neptunes (Toni Braxton, Britney Spears) and songwriters Kandi Burruss (Alicia Keys, Samantha Mumba) and Stephen Garrett (Aaliyah, The Pussycat Dolls).

Sexy songstresses Shakira and Beyonce finished shooting the video for their duet "Beautiful Liar" with director Jake Nava, who is also known for his work on Kylie Minogue's "Red Blooded Woman" and Beyonce's very own "Crazy In Love". The "La Tortura" singer on the other hand is also scheduled to appear on the next albums by rapper Eve and producer Wyclef Jean. Do you see Shakira heading the R&B route for her next English album?

My second husband British R&B crooner Craig David is currently recording his 4^th album which is expected to come out in the fourth quarter of 2007, and it has been reported that he’s working with producer Dallas Austin. Even though we haven’t seen Austin in the charts recently, he did belt out some of the most memorable hits of 2005, most notably with British girlband Sugababes’ “Push The Button” and “Ugly”, so I’m sure when Dallas and David hit the studio, nothing but magic will be created!

Craig’s last album “The Story Goes” spawned hits like “All The Way” and “Unbelievable”, as well as collaborations with producers Mark Hill (Christina Milian, Michelle Escoffery), The Underdogs (Beyonce, Fantasia), Mark Taylor (Delta Goodrem, Keisha White) and songwriter Rick Nowels (Dido, Celine Dion).

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J Records label head Clive Davis is launching not one, but two of the most awaited albums of 2007, the first being Whitney Houston's comeback album and it has been confirmed that she already collaborated with producers Jermaine Dupri (Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson), Babyface (Madonna, Tamia), R Kelly (Celine Dion, Syleena Johnson) as well as songwriter Diane Warren, who penned a new hit for Houston called "I Didn't Know How Much Strength I Had". The other awaited album is of former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson, and the songwriter/producer who's on top of her list is none other than the multi-talented Ne-Yo, whose recent success with Beyonce's "Irreplaceable", Rihanna's "Unfaithful" and Paula DeAnda's "Walk Away" got him to book additional studio time with pop stars Britney Spears, Enrique Iglesias and Celine Dion. Which album are you looking forward to more?

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Mariah Carey is set to appear on rap group Bone Thugs N Harmony's upcoming album "Strength and Loyalty", which is due April 17^th via Interscope Records. The new set is executively produced by Swizz Beatz (Jennifer Lopez, Mya), with additional productions by Polow Da Don (Jamie Foxx, Keyshia Cole), Timbaland (Ginuwine, Missy Elliot) and Will-I-Am (Kelis, The Game).