It's been confirmed that "Step Back" is the track Claude Kelly penned for Justin Timberlake's protégé Esmee Denters. Danish hitmakers Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin of production duo Soulshock & Karlin serve as the song's producers, and they're also behind hits performed by Solange Knowles ("Sandcastle Disco") and Keyshia Cole ("Fallin' Out").

Excellent:

All I See: (Edwin “Lil’ Eddie” Serrano, Mich Hedin Hansen, Jonas Jeberg, Raymond Calhoun).

Heart Beat Rock: (Kylie Minogue, Karen Poole, John Lipsey, Calvin Harris).

In My Arms: (Kylie Minogue, Calvin Harris, Paul Harris, Julian Peake, Richard “Biff” Stannard).

Speakerphone: (Klas Ahlund, Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Henrik Jonback).

Wow: (Kylie Minogue, Karen Poole, Greg Kurstin).

Very Good:

2 Hearts: (Jim Eliot, Mirna Stilwell).

Like a Drug: (Engelina Andrina, Adam Powers, Mich Hedin Hansen, Jonas Jeberg).

No More Rain: (Kylie Minogue, Karen Poole, Jonas Quant, Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg).

Nu-di-ty: (Karen Poole, Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg).

The One: (Kylie Minogue, Emma Holmgren, Russell Small, James Wiltshire, Richard “Biff” Stannard).

Good:

Cosmic: (Kylie Minogue, Eg White).

Sensitized: (Cathy Dennis, Guy Chambers, Serge Gainsbourg).

Stars: (Kylie Minogue, Paul Harris, Julian Peake, Richard “Biff” Stannard).

Quick Take: “X” is the perfect make up gift after the disappointing “Body Language”.

Rating: (5/5) – Excellent.

Here is the video for Mariah Carey’s new single, “I’ll Be Lovin’ U Long Time”, taken from her latest album, “E=MC2”. The track was crafted by Cristyle “The Ink” Johnson (Beyonce Knowles, Janet Jackson) and DJ Toomp (Joanna Levesque, Lea Quezada).

Other musicians contributing to “E=MC2” are Jermaine Dupri (Alicia Keys, Christina Milian), Bryan Michael Cox (Faith Evans, Toni Braxton), Christopher “Tricky” Stewart (Tamar Braxton, Mya Harrison), Terius “Dream” Nash (Usher Raymond, Celine Dion), Kendrick “Wyldcard” Dean (Chante Moore, Brandy Norwood), Johnta Austin (Leona Lewis, Jessica Simpson), Stargate: Tor Erik Hermansen & Mikkel Storleer Eriksen (Michelle Williams, Kelly Rowland), Nate “Danja” Hills (Jazmine Sullivan, Britney Spears), Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean (Gwen Stefani, Solange Knowles), Balewa Muhammad (Fantasia Barrino, Amerie Rogers), Scott Storch (Christina Aguilera, Keyshia Cole) and James Poyser (Vivian Green, Nikka Costa).

[Watch] Mariah Carey - I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time

In addition to “Beautiful Nightmare”, “Erotic” and “Beat My Drums”, another song that’s slotted for inclusion on Beyonce’s upcoming 3^rd album is “Beauty of Love”. The track was helmed by Kara DioGuardi (Brandy Norwood, Mya Harrison) and Reginald “Scyience” Perry (Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson).

Other musicians scheduled to contribute to the yet to be titled project are Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley (Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake), Christopher “Tricky” Stewart (Mariah Carey, Usher Raymond), Sean “The Pen” Garrett (Jamie Foxx, Megan Rochell), Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins (Michael Jackson, Toni Braxton), Beau Dozier (Nicole Scherzinger, Joss Stone), Jack Splash (Jazmine Sullivan, Solange Knowles), Stargate: Tor Erik Hermansen & Mikkel Storleer Eriksen (Lionel Richie, Kelly Rowland), Johnta Austin (Mary J. Blige, Jessica Simpson), Kerry “Krucial” Brothers (Christina Aguilera, Mario Vazquez), Ryan “Alias” Tedder (Whitney Houston, Leona Lewis), Amanda Ghost (Kylie Minogue, Jordin Sparks), Jim Jonsin (Mario Barrett, LeToya Luckett) and Cristyle “The Ink” Johnson (Jennifer Lopez, Natasha Bedingfield).

Side Note: James Wiltshire and Russell Small of British dance duo Freemasons revealed that since Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley is producing the majority of Beyonce’s next album, they’re not sure if their tracks will make the final cut, so they decided to shop the same songs for other artists!

Here is the video for Jazmine Sullivan’s debut single, “Need U Bad”, which was co-written and produced by Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot and Cainon Lamb (Fantasia Barrino, Keyshia Cole). The track is lifted from Sullivan’s upcoming album on J Records.

The as-yet untitled effort is confirmed to boast additional collaborations with Cool & Dre: Andre Lyon and Marcello Valenzano (Amerie Rogers, Teedra Moses), Jack Splash (Beyonce Knowles, Jamie Foxx), Christopher “Tricky” Stewart (Janet Jackson, Usher Raymond), Stargate: Tor Erik Hermansen & Mikkel Storleer Eriksen (Mario Barrett, Leona Lewis), Marsha Ambrosius (Alicia Keys, Emily King), James Poyser (Mariah Carey, Vivian Green), Nate “Danja” Hills (Christina Milian, Nelly Furtado), Wyclef Jean (Karina Pasian, Samantha Jade) and Salaam Remi (Amy Winehouse, Lauryn Hill).

[Watch] Jazmine Sullivan - Need U Bad

Pop star Britney Spears has recently recruited the songwriting/production services of Taio Cruz for her upcoming 6^th album on Jive Records. Besides working on the Pussycat Dolls’ next album, “Doll Domination”, the British hitmaker also collaborated with artists such as Mya Harrison, Esmee Denters and Brit & Alex.

Other musicians backing Spears on the yet to be titled project are Bloodshy & Avant: Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg (Kylie Minogue, Jordin Sparks), Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins (Beyonce Knowles, Janet Jackson), Sean “The Pen” Garrett (Gwen Stefani, Ashlee Simpson), Dallas Austin (Ciara Harris, Kelis Rogers), Kara DioGuardi (Christina Milian, Samantha Jade), Guy Sigsworth (Madonna, Alanis Morissette), Cathy Dennis (Sophie Ellis Bextor, Rachel Stevens), Jonathan “J.R.” Rotem (Mya Harrison, Jennifer Lopez), Jack Splash (Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson), Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald (Katy Perry, Leona Lewis), Polow Da Don (Keyshia Cole, Usher Raymond) and Nate “Danja” Hills (Paula DeAnda, Nelly Furtado).

In addition to belting hits for the likes of Leona Lewis (“Forgive Me”), Brooke Hogan (“Incognito”), Kat DeLuna (“Love Confusion”) and Frankie J (“Daddy’s Little Girl”), up and coming singer/songwriter Claude Kelly is also working on the next projects by Whitney Houston (Arista/J Records), Jennifer Hudson (Arista/J Records), Toni Braxton (TBA), Brandy Norwood (Knockout Entertainment/Epic Records), Esmee Denters (Tennman/Interscope Records), Pixie Lott (Mercury Records), Lady GaGa (Interscope Records), Hayden Panettiere (Hollywood Records), Melissa Jimenez (SRC/Universal Music) and New Kids on the Block (Interscope Records).

Amongst the producers Kelly collaborated with throughout his career are Soulshock & Karlin: Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin (Solange Knowles, Blu Cantrell), Stargate: Tor Erik Hermansen & Mikkel Storleer Eriksen (Mary J. Blige, Keke Wyatt), Salaam Remi (Amy Winehouse, Jazmine Sullivan), Allaune “Akon” Thiam (Nicole Scherzinger, Gwen Stefani) and Nadir “RedOne” Khayat (Lionel Richie, Tami Chynn).

Estonian singer/songwriter Kerli will release her debut album, “Love is Dead”, on July 8^th via Island Records. The set features productions from Guy Chambers (“The Creationist”), Lester Mendez (“Walking on Air”, “Hurt Me”) and David Maurice (“I Want Nothing”, “Up Up Up”, “Creepshow”, “Strange Boy”).

Kerli – Love is Dead [Official Track List]:

01 – Love is Dead

02 – Walking on Air

03 – The Creationist

04 – I Want Nothing

05 – Up Up Up

06 – Bulletproof

07 – Beautiful Day

08 – Creepshow

09 – Hurt Me

10 – Butterfly Cry

11 – Strange Boy

12 – Fragile

Singer/songwriter Kara DioGuardi checked in with fans via her official MySpace profile on Wednesday (2^nd July 2008) with the following message: - "Hey Everyone! Hope all is well and that is everyone is enjoying a very beautiful start to their summer! I have been keeping very busy with my work, but have been able to take some time off to spend with family and friends; which has been a true blessing.

Here is a quick update on what has been going on in my work life: This month I am continuing to work with recording artists David Cook, Britney Spears, Demi Lovato, Tyler Hilton, Christina Milian, Laze & Royal, David Archuletta, Pink, Esmee Denters, Kesha, Street Drum Corps, and Miranda Cosgrove. I am also currently collaborating with writers/producers Justin Timberlake, Steve McEwan, Nate "Danja" Hills, Brian Howes, Jess Cates, Jason Reeves, Marti Frederiksen, John Fields, Dan & Leah, Nicole Morier, Bloodshy & Avant, and Cisco Adler.

Camp Rock debuted last week and has brought with it success for its singles "Play My Music", co-written by Mitch Allan and myself and We Rock", which I wrote with Greg Wells. Vanessa Hudgens sophomore album, "Identified" was released on July 1^st and features the track, "Gone with the Wind", which I co-wrote with Eman Kiriakou, Zukhan Bey, Brandon Howard, Walter Afanasieff and Maimouna Youseff. Thank you again for all of your messages, friend requests and constant support! I appreciate it more than you know."

[Visit] Kara DioGuardi @ MySpace

British singer/songwriter Lily Allen has dubbed her upcoming sophomore album "Stuck on the Naughty Step", and will release it later this year via Capitol Records. The set is scheduled to feature alliances with Mark Ronson (Christina Aguilera, Nikka Costa), Greg Kurstin (Kylie Minogue, Jessica Simpson), Hannah Robinson (Sophie Ellis Bextor, Rachel Stevens) and Future Cut: Darren Lewis & Tunde Babalola (Kelis Rogers, Nicole Scherzinger).