Singer/songwriter/producer Janelle Monae will release her long-awaited debut album, "Metropolis", in September via Wondaland Arts Society/Bad Boy Records. The set which was executively produced by Antwan "Big Boi" Patton of Hip/Hop duo Outkast features tracks like "Smile", "Letting Go" and "Violet Stars/Happy Hunting".

[Visit] Janelle Monae @ MySpace

"Love is Dead" is the forthcoming debut album by Estonian born artist Kerli, who is currently signed to Island/Def Jam Records. Feel free to visit her official MySpace profile and listen to songs such as "Walking on Air", "Beautiful Day", "Hurt Me", "Creepshow" and "Bulletproof".

[Visit] Kerli @ MySpace

Pop queen Madonna recently unveiled the video for her new single “4 Minutes”, which was produced by Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley and Nate “Danja” Hills. The Justin Timberlake assisted lead single is taken from her forthcoming album, “Hard Candy”, due 29^th April via Maverick/Warner Bros. Records.

[Purchase] Madonna - 4 Minutes @ iTunes

Singer/songwriter Sean "The Pen" Garrett is currently filming the video for his new single "Grippin" with director Hype Williams, best known for his work with Beyonce ("Check on It"), Jamie Foxx ("Unpredictable"), and Janet Jackson ("Call on Me").

The Ludacris assisted joint is the first single taken from Garrett's forthcoming debut album, "Turbo 919", which also features collaborations with Allaune "Akon" Thiam (Madonna, Gwen Stefani), The Neptunes: Pharrell Williams & Chad Hugo (Kelis, Faith Evans), and Bloodshy & Avant: Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg (Britney Spears, Christina Milian).

[Watch] Sean Garrett - Grippin' (Making of Video)

Consisting of Jeniece Cano, Alyssa Layton & Kelly Madigan, up and coming group JAK are the latest signees to Blackground Records - home to other artists such as LAX, Tank, Jojo, and Ashley Parker Angel.

The members are currently in the midst of recording their debut album which is plotted for release later this year, and via their official MySpace profile, you can listen to their joints "Hot", "Suicide" and "Dangerous Minds".

Among the musicians drafted for their as-yet untitled project are Stephen "Static" Garrett (Destiny's Child, The Pussycat Dolls), Billy Steinberg (Katharine McPhee, Ruth-Anne Cunningham), The Underdogs: Harvey Mason Jr. & Damon Thomas (Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia Barrino), and Diane Warren (Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey).

[Visit] JAK @ MySpace 

Destiny's Child star Michelle Williams has christened 12^th August as the release date of her forthcoming 3^rd Music World/Columbia Records album, "Unexpected".

The set will be preceded by the Solange Knowles penned "We Break the Dawn", produced by Andrew Frampton & Wayne Wilkins (Natasha Bedingfield, Leona Lewis).

Other musicians backing Williams on "Unexpected" are Jim Jonsin (Danity Kane, Mario Vazquez), Stargate: Tor Erik Hermansen & Mikkel Storleer Eriksen (Janet Jackson, Kelly Rowland), Makeba Riddick (Toni Braxton, Jennifer Lopez), The Heavyweights (Christina Milian, Maria Lawson), and Soulshock & Karlin: Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin (Charmayne Maxwell, Keyshia Cole).

Up and coming artist Asia Cruise posted her new single, "Boyfriend", on her official MySpace profile, so make sure you give it a listen.

The T.Pain produced track is said to be one of the joints initially offered to Britney Spears whilst recording her last album, "Blackout".

On the other hand, the "Selfish" singer's debut album - tentatively titled "Who is Asia Cruise?" - is confirmed to feature additional alliances from The Corna Boyz: Dwayne Nesmith & Pierre Medor (Keri Hilson, LeToya Luckett, Tynisha Keli).

[Visit] Asia Cruise @ MySpace

Fans of R&B singer Usher will be delighted to learn that his highly-anticipated forthcoming album, "Here I Stand", has now been pushed forward from June to May due to the significant success of the set's lead single, "Love in this Club", produced by Polow Da Don (Jamie Foxx, Chris Brown).

"Here I Stand" - now penciled for May 27^th release via LaFace/Zomba - is expected to boast additional alliances from Stargate: Tor Erik Hermansen & Mikkel Storleer Eriksen (Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson), Schaffer "Ne-Yo" Smith (Teedra Moses, Heather Headley), Robert Shea Taylor (Wynter Gordon, Solange Knowles), Dre & Vidal: Andre Harris & Vidal Davis (Amerie, Fantasia Barrino), Jermaine Dupri (Faith Evans, Syleena Johnson), Edwin "Lil Eddie" Serrano (Omarion, Kylie Minogue), Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley (Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado), and The Clutch: Candice Nelson, Ezekiel Lewis, Balewa Muhammad & Patrick "J.Que" Smith (Paula Campbell, Mario Barrett).

R&B crooner Omarion is currently working on his 3^rd solo album, and it's been confirmed that among the musicians snagged for the new project is singer/songwriter Edwin "Lil' Eddie" Serrano, who's resume includes penning hits for the likes of Jojo ("Coming for You"), Kylie Minogue ("All I See"), and Paula Abdul ("Dance Like There's No Tomorrow").

The "Entourage" singer's as-yet untitled set is the follow-up to "21", which was released in December 2006 via Sony Music, and spawned alliances from Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes (Kelis, Toni Braxton), The Underdogs: Harvey Mason Jr. & Damon Thomas (LeToya Luckett, Katharine McPhee), Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley (Madonna, Nelly Furtado), Eric Hudson (Raven Symone, Tynisha Keli), Sean "The Pen" Garrett (Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani), Durrell "Tank" Babbs (Fantasia Barrino, Keke Wyatt), Bryan Michael Cox (Faith Evans, Nicole Scherzinger), Kendrick "Wyldcard" Dean (Chante Moore, Karina Pasian), Taurian "Adonis" Shropshire (Jennifer Lopez, Danity Kane), and The Clutch: Keri Hilson, Candice Nelson, Ezekiel Lewis, Balewa Muhammad & Patrick "J.Que" Smith (Amerie, Paula Campbell).