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Apart from appearing on albums by R&B crooner Avant, Reggae artist Shaggy, Rapper Diddy, and music producer Timbaland, Pussycat Dolls’ lead singer Nicole Scherzinger has another man to add to her resume, and it’s none other than Reggaeton maestro Daddy Yankee as she’s appearing on his next album which features additional collaborations with Fergie, Akon (Gwen Stefani, T-Pain) and Scott Storch (The Game, Justin Timberlake). Scherzinger will also release her highly anticipated solo debut album later this year, so expect productions from Bryan Michael Cox (Claudette Ortiz, Mariah Carey), Sean Garrett (Amerie, Chris Brown), Polow Da Don (Jamie Foxx, Kelly Rowland) and Will-I-Am (Mary J. Blige, Kelis).

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to Brit & Alex! They're a new a girlband signed by indie label Hometown Records and are currently putting the final touches on their upcoming debut album which will boast collabos with songwriters/producers Dallas Austin (Sugababes, Anastacia), Polow Da Don (Fergie, Kelly Rowland), Sean Garrett (Gwen Stefani, Beyonce), Tricky Stewart (Chante Moore, Blu Cantrell) and Penelope Magnet (Mya, Britney Spears). You can also visit their official MySpace profile and listen to some of their hot joints like the rumored lead single "I Like Boys" and "Club Banger". 

[Visit] Brit & Alex on MySpace

Janet may be off the spotlight at the moment, but she’s definitely not showing any signs of slowing down as it has been recently reported that she’s starring opposite actor/director Tyler Perry on his upcoming movie “Why Did I Get Married?”, which revolves around the trials of marriage, and what happens to one family when a sexy young temptress arrives on the scene. The movie also stars singer/songwriter Jill Scott and will be released sometime in 2008. For those who are not familiar with Perry’s work, he’s also responsible for bringing us excellent African-American movies like “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” (one of my all time favorite movies), “Madea’s Family Reunion” and “Daddy’s Little Girls”. Something also tells me that Perry will bring out another side of Jackson that we haven’t seen before, and prove to us that she’s a much better actress than we all think she is!

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Sonsgtress Rihanna is currently working hard at her follow up to the platinum selling "A Girl Like Me", which boasted hits like "S.O.S." and "Break It Off" featuring Sean Paul. Singer/songwriter Ne-Yo is among the collaborators on the album, and here's what she had to say about the "Unfaithful" penner:

"He is such a genius," the Barbados-born beauty said recently. "I've never had vocal training, so when I'm in the studio, he'll tell me how to breathe and stuff. And I'm like, 'What?' Like he'll call out these big fancy words: 'OK, I want you to do staccato.' And I'm like, 'OK, I don't know what that is.' "

Expect additional collaborators on the album like Stargate (Beyonce, Megan Rochell), Evan Rogers & Carl Sturken (Kelly Clarkson, Emma Bunton), Timbaland (Chris Brown, Ginuwine), Will-I-Am (Justin Timberlake, Mary J. Blige) and Sean Garrett (Fantasia Barrino, Gwen Stefani).

The "Pon De Replay" singer also hopes to rope in hitmakers Polow Da Don (Jamie Foxx, Keyshia Cole) and Andre 3000 (Kelis, Norah Jones) for the album, and despite not setting a release date yet, Rihanna gave us some hints on what to expect as she described the new project as fresh and mostly up-tempo.

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Rumor has it that since recently mega producer Jermaine Dupri joined the Island division of Def Jam Records, his girlfriend Janet Jackson might be going along for the ride as well! In case you didn't know, Jackson's latest effort "20 Y.O." ends her 5 album deal with Virgin Records, but nevertheless, I really hope that for her next album, she gets a record label that knows how to market her properly. On the other hand, Def Jam records are also known for hooking up their artists with the best producers/songwriters out there, and I just can't wait to see who Ms. Jackson will collaborate with next …

Additional details have been revealed about singer/songwriter Solange Knowles' upcoming sophomore album, which is due later this year via Sony Music. She stated in her official MySpace profile that R&B vocalist Bilal is among the collaborators on the album, but what she didn't mention is that hitmaker Swizz Beatz is also on board as he produced a new track for her called "Pretty Good", and I'm really hoping that this joint will make it to the final cut! For those who came in late, Knowles also worked with Kaseem Dean as a songwriter on her sister Beyonce's smash singles "Upgrade U" and "Get Me Bodied". Also look out for more Swizzy productions on the next albums by Britney Spears, Usher, Jennifer Lopez and rapper Eve.

Andrea Martin, one of my favorite songwriters, signed a new record deal with indie label Soterios Records, which is managed by critically acclaimed DJ/Producer/Remixer Hani. She's currently recording her sophomore album "Middle Of The Night", and it will be released later this year.

Martin's debut "The Best Of Me" was released in 1998 via Arista Records, and it boasted hits like "Let Me Return The Favor", a cameo by veteran vocalist Lauryn Hill, as well as collaborations with producers Soulshock & Karlin (Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton), Rodney Jerkins (Mariah Carey, Fantasia) and Wyclef Jean (Claudette Ortiz, Mary J. Blige).

PS. Expect a special compilation of my favorite Andrea Martin songs very soon

Seems like this will be the cover of singer/songwriter Teedra Moses' upcoming sophomore album "The Young Lioness", which is due this year via TVT Records. The new disc sports collaborations with long time partner Poli Paul (Christina Milian, Teairra Mari), Cool & Dre (Kelis, Mary J. Blige) and Raphael Saadiq (Joss Stone, Angie Stone). Album cuts include "Take My Love Away", "Love Divine", "Get Free" and the rumored lead single "Love's Gonna Be" featuring R&B crooner Trey Songz.

Former Misteeq member Alesha Dixon is rumored to release her upcoming debut album this September. I'm not sure if the title is gonna change, but it was initially titled as "Fired Up" and was going to be released late last year, but due to sluggish sales of both singles "Knockdown" and "Lipstick", plans to go further with the album got scrapped! She also went through a very difficult time after stories about her husband's infidelity with singer Javine were all over the news.

But keeping all the drama aside, I really can't wait for this album to come out! Expect collaborations with songwriters/producers Soulshock (Toni Braxton, Kelly Rowland), Mark Hill (Craig David, Christina Milian), Johnny Douglas (Amerie, All Saints), Richard X (Kelis, M.I.A.), Xenomania (Sugababes, Girls Aloud), Cathy Dennis (Britney Spears, Janet Jackson), Matt Rowe & Richard Stannard (Victoria Beckham, Kylie Minogue) and British rapper Estelle, who's also signed by singer/songwriter John Legend and will come out with her sophomore album later this year.

Here are some of the tracks Dixon recorded for the album, but there's still no confirmation on which ones will actually end of on the final tracklisting.

• Change – produced by Mark Hill.
• Fired Up – produced by Johnny Douglas.
• For You I Will (featuring Estelle) – produced by Johnny Douglas.
• Let It – produced by Johnny Douglas.
• Little Bit of Love – produced by Johnny Douglas.
• Love Criminal – produced by Richard X / co-written by Cathy Dennis.
• No Happy Ending – produced by Mark Hill.
• Superficial – produced by Johnny Douglas.
• Ting a Ling – produced by Richard Stannard.
• Ain't No Reason – produced by Richard Stannard & Matt Rowe.
• Bodyography – produced by Soulshock.
• Little Girl – produced by Richard Stannard & Matt Rowe.
• Make It Better – produced by Richard Stannard & Matt Rowe.
• Never Again – produced by Richard Stannard & Matt Rowe.
• What Does He Want From You? – produced by Richard Stannard & Matt Rowe.
• Knockdown – produced by Brian Higgins & Xenomania.

Jive recording artist Samantha Jade is getting ready to launch her debut album due later this year. The Australian newcomer captured our hearts with the Wyclef Jean produced "Step Up", which was taken from the soundtrack to the movie by the same name. Some of the collaborators that are expected on her debut include producers Beau Dozier (3LW, Avant) and Billy Mann (Kelly Rowland, Pink), as well as songwriters Dianne Warren (Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey), Lindy Robbins (Toni Braxton, Nicole Scherzinger) and Clutch member Ezekiel Lewis (Ciara, Fantasia). The final tracklisting hasn't been set yet, but joints like "Attached", "Break The Rules", "Changin'", "My Next", "Shame On You" and "The Real Me" are tipped for inclusion on the album. And for those who came in late, she also co-wrote tracks like Jojo's "Secret Love" and Ashley Tisdale's "Positivity" … I see a star in the making!