Mariah Carey has confirmed the track list for "E=MC²", her first studio album in three years. The 14-track set begins with "Migrate", which was co-written by Balewa Muhammad (Amerie, Christina Aguilera), and produced Nate “Danja” Hills (Katharine McPhee, Britney Spears).

Jermaine Dupri produced “Last Kiss”, “Thanx for Nothin’” and "Love Story", while Scott Storch helmed "Side Effects” and Norwegian producers Stargate crafted "I’m That Chick".

Other album cuts include "Cruise Control", penned by Cristyle “The Ink” Johnson, and "Bye Bye" written by Johnta Austin.

Among the additional collaborators on the disc are Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean on "O.O.C.”, DJ Toomp on "I’ll Be Lovin’ You Long Time", and James Poyser on “I Wish You Well”.

Bryan Michael Cox is credited as one of the three writers on “For the Record”, alongside Taurian “Adonis” Shropshire.

Mariah Carey - E=MC² (Official Track List):

1. Migrate
2. Touch My Body
3. Cruise Control
4. I Stay in Love
5. Side Effects
6. I’m That Chick
7. Love Story
8. I’ll Be Lovin’ U Long Time
9. Last Kiss
10. Thanx 4 Nothin’
11. O.O.C.
12. For The Record
13. Bye Bye
14. I Wish You Well

Already working on her forthcoming sophomore album, singer/actress Vanessa Hudgens has called in America’s most celebrated songwriter Kara DioGuardi to add the Midas touch on the as-yet untitled project.

DioGuardi – whose best known for her work with Paris Hilton (“Not Leaving without You”), Lindsay Lohan (“Confessions of a Broken Heart”), Nicole Scherzinger (“Baby Love”), Britney Spears (“Heaven on Earth”), Thalia (“Baby I’m in Love”) – is also crafting hits on the next projects by Anastacia (Epic/Sony Music), The Pussycat Dolls (A&M/Interscope Records), Beyonce (Columbia/Sony Music), Ashlee Simpson (Geffen Records), Samantha Jade (Jive Records), Cassie (Next Selection/Bad Boy Records), and Tynisha Keli (Warner Bros. Records).

Alongside celebrating the recent success of her latest single “I Remember”, R&B siren Keyshia Cole is currently squeezing in studio time for her third as-yet-untitled album, tentatively slated for Christmas release. The songstress has already garnered tracks from Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins (Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson), Polow Da Don (Kelly Rowland, Mya Harrison), Scott Storch (Silena Murrell, Mariah Carey), and Theron “Neff-U” Feemster (LeToya Luckett, Mary J. Blige).

It’s been confirmed that hitmaking duo Stargate, consisting of members Tor Erik Hermansen & Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, are responsible for crafting the track Ne-Yo penned for singer/actress Lindsay Lohan, which will also appear on her forthcoming 3^rd studio offering.

Besides working together on tracks like “Closer”, “Sexy Love” and “Because of You”, The Norwegian production team and the “So Sick” singer collectively belted tracks for other artists such as Rihanna (“Take a Bow”, “Hate that I Love You”, “Unfaithful”, “Good Girl Gone Bad”), Beyonce (“Irreplaceable”, “If”), and Mary J. Blige (“Fade Away”, “What Love Is”).

After collaborating with hitmaker Polow Da Don and songwriting/production team The Clutch: Patrick "J.Que" Smith, Ezekiel Lewis, Candice Nelson & Balewa Muhammad on tracks like "Like a Boy" and "Bang it Up", singer/actress Ciara has re-assigned their services for the follow-up to "The Evolution", which is earmarked for September release via Jive Records.

The as-yet untitled set is also confirmed to sport alliances from Nate "Danja" Hills and vocoder master T.Pain, who collectively crafted hits for the likes of Britney Spears ("Cold as Fire") and Mariah Carey ("Migrate").

Songwriter Kara DioGuardi – best known for her work with Kelly Clarkson ("You Found Me"), Christina Aguilera ("Slow Down Baby"), Kylie Minogue ("Spinning Around"), Hilary Duff ("With Love"), Ashlee Simpson ("Pieces of Me"), Anastacia ("Welcome to my Truth"), Celine Dion ("Surprise, Surprise") – is currently working with super producer Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, who's on the other hand enjoying the recent success of Mariah Carey's latest single "Touch My Body". 

Fans of DioGuardi's poigant songwriting should keep an eye on the upcoming projects by Beyonce (Sony Music), Samantha Jade (Jive Records), Cassie (Next Selection/Bad Boy Records), Ashlee Simpson (Geffen Records), and Tynisha Keli (Warner Bros. Records).

As previously reported, model turned singer Stefani Vara will release her upcoming debut album – “Storybook Diaries” – in May via Siri Music/Universal Republic.

The first official single, “Water”, was co-written by Bless’ed Pen: Chauncy Jackson & Kim Croft, and produced by Keynon Moore for Masta Productions.

Other tracks earmarked for inclusion on the set are “Easy (U Like That)”, and The Insomniax produced “Lately”, which was released digitally late 2007 and garnered Vara a huge fanbase.

[Listen] Stefani Vara - Water

Singer/songwriter Steph Jones posted a new version of “You Are My Sunshine” on his official MySpace profile, so make sure you check it out!

Even though there’s no release confirmed for his forthcoming debut album, “Mr. Ordinary”, the set is said to spawn collaborations with Ryan “Alias” Tedder (Beyonce, Lyrica Anderson), Evan “Kidd” Bogart (Mya Harrison, Jennifer Lopez), Terius “Dream” Nash (Keke Wyatt, Mariah Carey), and Christopher “Tricky” Stewart (Tamar Braxton, Blu Cantrell).

[Visit] Steph Jones @ MySpace

Excellent:

• Your Room: produced by Tim Kelley & Bob Robinson.

Very Good:

• Can't Nobody: co-written by Tab Nkhereanye / produced by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart.
• Miss Your Kiss: produced by Tim Kelley & Bob Robinson.

Average:

• Get None: co-written by Mya Harrison, Bryan Michael Cox / produced by Jermaine Dupri.
• No Disrespect: produced by Missy Elliot.
• The Way It Should Be: co-written by Tab Nkhereanye / produced by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart.
• Tonight: produced by Tim Kelley & Bob Robinson.
• Words: produced by Tim Kelley & Bob Robinson.

Poor:

• Get Mine: co-written by Tab Nkhereanye / produced by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart.
• If You Don't Wanna Love Me: co-written by Tocha Scott / produced by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart.
• I'm Over You: produced by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart.
• Money Can't Buy You Love: produced by Darrell "Delite" Allamby.
• Once Again: produced by Darrell "Delite" Allamby.
• You Don't Know: produced by Tim Kelley & Bob Robinson.

My Thoughts:

Since I'm a big fan of production duo Tim Kelley & Bob Robinson – best known for their work with Jennifer Lopez ("Cherry Pie"), Mya ("One Night"), Willa Ford ("Tender"), Hilary Duff ("I Wish"), Brian McKnight ("Comfortable") –  I thought about giving this album a listen ….

Unfortunately, Tamar's solo offering fails to impress despite the presence of top notch musicians such as Jermaine Dupri (Mariah Carey, Chante Moore), Missy Elliot (Tamia, Keyshia Cole), and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart (Blu Cantrell, Celine Dion).

Why? Simply because the beats are hot but the delivery, lyrics, and vocal arrangements are mediocre at best.

Rating: (2/5) – Average.