R&B vocalist Brandy Norwood will release "Departed" as the lead single from her upcoming album on Knockout Entertainment/Epic Records. The track was co-written by The Writing Camp: Evan "Kidd" Bogart, Victoria "Lady V" Horn, Erika "E-Nuri" Nuri & David "DQ" Quinones (Christina Milian, Steph Jones) and produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins (Michael Jackson,  George Michael).

Other contributors on the yet to be titled project are Bryan Michael Cox (Kelly Rowland, Solange Knowles), Kara DioGuardi (Celine Dion, Alecia Moore), The Underdogs: Harvey Mason Jr. & Damon Thomas (Chris Brown, Jordin Sparks), Cristyle "The Ink" Johnson (Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson), Polow Da Don (Keyshia Cole, Mario Barrett), Torica (Megan Rochell, LeToya Luckett), Kerry "Krucial" Brothers (Christina Aguilera, Erika Rose), Fernando Garibay (Whitney Houston, Enrique Iglesias), Midi Mafia: Bruce Waynne & Dirty Swift (Jennifer Lopez, Christina Milian) and Brian Kennedy (Ciara Harris, Jesse McCartney).

Here is the album cover for Girlicious’ forthcoming debut album on Geffen Records. The self-titled affair will sport alliances with Beau Dozier (Nicole Scherzinger, Beyonce Knowles), Stefanie Ridel (Fergie, Nikki Flores), Phalon “Jazza Pha” Alexander (Toni Braxton, Ciara Harris), Jonathan “J.R.” Rotem (Britney Spears, Jesse McCartney) and Lyrica Anderson (Keke Palmer, Mya Harrison).

Destiny’s Child star Michelle Williams has dubbed “The Greatest” as the 2^nd single from her upcoming album, “Unexpected”. The track was co-written by Rico Love (Keri Hilson, Beyonce Knowles) and produced by Jim Jonsin (Kelly Rowland, LeToya Luckett).

Even though no release date is confirmed yet, “Unexpected” is scheduled to boast additional collaborations with Soulshock & Karlin: Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin (Solange Knowles, Toni Braxton), Makeba Riddick (Jessica Simpson, Katharine McPhee), Stargate: Tor Erik Hermansen & Mikkel Storleer Eriksen (Usher Raymond, Christina Milian), Wayne Wilkins (Natasha Bedingfield, Mutya Buena) and The Heavyweights (Ne-Yo, Maria Lawson).

Timbaland’s protégé Keri Hilson confirmed making songwriting contributions on Britney Spears’ upcoming 6^th album on Jive Records, which is expected to drop by late 2008 or early 2009. Hilson previously collaborated with the artist on tracks like “Gimme More”, “Perfect Lover”, “Break the Ice” and “Outta This World”.

Other artists Hilson assisted throughout her musical career are Toni Braxton (“Supposed to Be”), Mary J. Blige (“Take Me as I Am”), Ciara Harris (“Ooh Baby”), LeToya Luckett (“What Love Can Do”), Jennifer Lopez (“Wrong When You’re Gone”), Zena McNally (“Feelin’ You”), Pussycat Dolls (“Wait a Minute”), Danity Kane (“Right Now”), Usher Raymond (“Red Light”), Chris Brown (“Young Love”), Omarion Grandberry (“Ice Box”), Ruben Studdard (“Play Our Song”), Durrell “Tank” Babbs (“The Wedding Song”), Paula Campbell (“Hit List”) and Keke Palmer (“The Game Song”).

Excellent:

Crazy Wonderful: (Amerie Rogers, Simon "Wiz" Johnson, Andre Gonzalez).

Crush: (Amerie Rogers, Makeda Davis, Simon "Wiz" Johnson).

That's What U R: (Amerie Rogers, Chris Paultre, Derrick Braxton).

Very Good:

Hate to Love You: (Amerie Rogers, Balewa Muhammad, Candice Nelson, Ezekiel Lewis, Patrick "J.Que" Smith).

Losing You: (Amerie Rogers, Khalid Hadj Brahim).

Paint Me Over: (Amerie Rogers, Roosevelt "Bink" Harrell).

Somebody Up There: (Amerie Rogers, Bryan Michael Cox).

Take Control: (Amerie Rogers, Thomas "Cee-Lo" Callaway, Mike Caren).

Weak:

All Roads: (Amerie Rogers, Curtis Richardson).

Gotta Work: (Amerie Rogers, Rich Shelton, Loren Hill, Kevin Veney).

Make Me Believe: (Amerie Rogers, Curtis Mayfield).

Some like It: (Amerie Rogers, Lenvert Nicholson).

When Loving You Was Easy: (Amerie Rogers, Curtis Richardson).

Quick Take: HATED the album on first listen, but once I started skipping the forgettable tracks, it turned out to be a decent effort!

Rating: (3/5) – Good.

Pop artist Katy Perry is said to release “Hot N Cold” as the 2^nd single off her debut album, “One of the Boys”. The track was produced by Martin “Max Martin” Sandberg and Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald, who also helmed Perry’s runaway hit, “I Kissed a Girl”.

Max Martin and Dr. Luke’s collaborative resume includes crafting hits for other artists such as Alecia “Pink” Moore (“U + Ur Hand”), Kelly Clarkson (“Since U Been Gone”), Leona Lewis (“I Will Be”), The Veronicas (“4Ever”), Ashley Parker Angel (“I’m Better”), Kelis Rogers (“I Don’t Think So”), Megan McCauley (“Tap That”), Skye Sweetnam (“Girl Like Me”), Marion Raven (“Break You”) and Vanessa Hudgens (“Identified”).

Here is the video for Danity Kane’s new single, “Bad Girl”, taken from their sophomore album, “Welcome to the Dollhouse”. The track was crafted by Mary Brown (Beyonce Knowles, Syleena Johnson), Jim Beanz (Britney Spears, Ashlee Simpson) and Nate “Danja” Hills (Nelly Furtado, Keri Hilson).

“Welcome to the Dollhouse” sports additional contributions from Bryan Michael Cox (Cheri Dennis, Brandy Norwood), Kendrick “Wyldcard” Dean (Chante Moore, Nicole Scherzinger), Reginald “Scyience” Perry (Mary J. Blige, Jamelia Davis), Mario Winans (Ashanti Douglas, Faith Evans), The Runners: Andrew Harr & Jermaine Beyince (Christina Milian, Keyshia Cole), Shanell Woodgett (Ne-Yo, Kelis Rogers), The Clutch: Balewa Muhammad, Candice Nelson, Ezekiel Lewis & Patrick “J.Que” Smith (Raven Symone, Fantasia Barrino) and Niara Scarlett (Girls Aloud, Mutya Buena).

[Watch] Danity Kane - Bad Girl

R&B crooner Usher Raymond is planning to release “What’s Your Name?” as the 3^rd single off his latest album, “Here I Stand”. The track was co-written by Ryan Toby (Claudette Ortiz, Mary J. Blige) and produced by Will “Will.I.Am” Adams (Teedra Moses, Justin Timberlake).

“Here I Stand” boasts additional productions from Jermaine Dupri (Alicia Keys, Faith Evans), Christopher “Tricky” Stewart (Jesse McCartney, Britney Spears), Jonathan “J.R.” Rotem (Sean Kingston, LeToya Luckett), Polow Da Don (Keri Hilson, Mario Barrett), Carlos “Los Da Maestro” McKinney (Karina Pasian, Chris Brown), Stargate: Tor Erik Hermansen & Mikkel Storleer Eriksen (Beyonce Knowles, Lionel Richie), Dre & Vidal: Andre Harris and Vidal Davis (Mariah Carey, Amerie Rogers) and Nate “Danja” Hills (Jennifer Lopez, Alecia Moore), as well as songwriting contributions by The Clutch: Balewa Muhammad, Candice Nelson, Ezekiel Lewis & Patrick “J.Que” Smith (Fantasia Barrino, Omarion Grandberry), Schaffer “Ne-Yo” Smith (Christina Milian, Paula DeAnda), Terius “Dream” Nash (Celine Dion, Rihanna Fenty) and Johnta Austin (Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson).

In addition to working with Faheem “T.Pain” Najm and Thomas “Cee-Lo” Callaway on their new single, “Superbad”, Nappy Boy recording group Sophia Fresh also roped in the likes of Allaune “Akon” Thiam (Whitney Houston, Gwen Stefani), Warren “Oak” Felder (Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Rowland), The Co-Stars (Sean Garrett, Teairra Mari) and Chasity Nwagbara (Jesse McCartney, Raven Symone) for their forthcoming debut album on Atlantic Records.

Here is the video for Jessie Malakouti’s new single, “Trash Me”, taken from her upcoming debut album, "Pretty & Gritty". The set is scheduled to boast productions from Rami Yaqoub (Britney Spears, Danity Kane), Arnthur Birgisson (Janet Jackson, Rachel Stevens) and Greg Kurstin (Lily Allen, Jessica Simpson).

[Watch] Jessie Malakouti - Trash Me