R&B vocalist Brooke Valentine has reportedly been dropped from Virgin Music, and she’s currently looking for a new record deal. The “Girlfight” singer was supposed to release her sophomore album - “Physical Education” - late last year, but plans to go ahead with the project were scrapped due to lack of radio support for lead single - “Dope Girl”.

Valentine’s debut LP, “Chain Letter”, was released in 2005 and boasted hits like “Long as You Come Home” and “I Want You Dead”. Among the musicians on that disc were Jonathan “Lil John” Smith (Teedra Moses, Amerie), Christopher “Tricky” Stewart (Rihanna, Tamar Braxton), Penelope Magnet (Britney Spears, Paris Hilton), Candice Nelson of The Clutch (Kiley Dean, LeToya Luckett), Walter Millsap III (Victoria Beckham, Jennifer Lopez), Corte Ellis of Soul Diggaz (Cheri Dennis, Katharine McPhee) and Swedish production team Bloodshy & Avant (Christina Milian, Kylie Minogue).

[Listen] Brooke Valentine - Thrill Of The Chase (produced by Bloodshy & Avant)

[Purchase] Brooke Valentine - Chain Letter (Virgin Music)

According to Nicole Scherzinger’s newly launched official website, the US release date for her highly anticipated debut album – “Her Name Is Nicole” – is 16^th October via A&M Records. The set features lead single, “Whatever U Like”, as well as collaborations with Sean Garrett (Britney Spears, Ashlee Simpson), Jamal “Polow Da Don” Jones (Janet Jackson, Ashanti), The Neptunes (Madonna, Faith Evans), Kanye West (Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey), Schaffer “Ne-Yo” Smith (Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson), Allaune “Akon” Thiam (Brick & Lace, Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas), Soulshock & Karlin (Toni Braxton, Jennifer Lopez), Keri Hilson (LeToya Luckett, Paula Campbell), Tim “Timbaland” Mosley (Nelly Furtado, Missy Elliot), Will “Will-I-Am” Adams (Mary J. Blige, Fergie), Kara Dioguardi (Gwen Stefani, Kylie Minogue) and Future Cut (Kelis, Lily Allen).

[Visit] Nicole Scherzinger - Official Website

New girl-group Second Nature are set to make waves with their material as they are currently in the studio working with the likes of Beau Dozier (Nicole Scherzinger, Samantha Jade), Poli Paul (Christina Milian, Teedra Moses) and Chad Beatz (Rihanna, Stefani Vara). Some of the tracks which you can hear on their MySpace profile include: -

• "Rockwitya": - produced by Beau Dozier.
• "Kiss My Lips": - produced by Beau Dozier.
• "Space": - produced by The Heavyweights.
• "Red Light": – produced by Poli Paul.

[Visit] Second Nature @ MySpace

Source

Mega producer Jonathan "J.R." Rotem is celebrating his second # 01 on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Chart - Rihanna's "S.O.S." being the first - as Sean Kingston's "Beautiful Girls" reached the top this week. The track is lifted from Kingston's self-titled debut album, which was released in July 31^st via Sony Music. On the other hand, fans of the handsome hitmaker should look out for his work on the next albums by:

• Britney Spears (Jive Records).
• Jennifer Lopez (Sony Music).
• Christina Milian (TBA).
• Mya (Motown Records).
• The Veronicas (Atlantic Records).
• Jessi Malay (Atlantic Records).
• Nikki Flores (Sony Music).
• Keke Palmer (Atlantic Records).
• Brick & Lace (Geffen Records).
• Crystal Q (Universal Records).
• Trey Songz (Atlantic Records).
• Jada (Motown Records).

[Read] Jonathan "J.R." Rotem - Monica Mania Xclusive Interview

Latin newcomer Kat De Luna is prepping for the release of her upcoming debut album, "9 Lives", which is due 7^th August via Epic Records. The set was executively produced by hitmaking team Red One (Jeannie Ortega, Mutya Buena), and De Luna co-wrote each and every track.

Kat De Luna – 9 Lives (Official Tracklist):

1. 9 Live (Intro) – produced by Red One.
2. Run The Show – produced by Red One.
3. Am I Dreaming? – produced by Red One.
4. Whine Up – produced by Red One.
5. Feel What I Feel – produced by Red One.
6. Love Me, Leave Me – produced by Red One.
7. In The End – produced by Red One.
8. Love Confusion – produced by Red One.
9. Animal – produced by Red One.
10. Be Remembered – produced by Red One.
11. Enjoy Saying Goodbye – produced by Red One.
12. Whine Up (Spanish Version) – produced by Red One.
13. Como Un Sueno – produced by Red One.
14. Run The Show (Spanish Version) – produced by Red One.

Gyrlfriend is the latest group to be launched by J Records, and their debut album is expected some time next year. Hitmaking duo The Underdogs - Harvey Mason Jr. & Damon Thomas - serve as executive producers. Some of the tracks confirmed are "Sprung", "Just Leave", "Okay" and "Wipe Me Down", which was co-written by Makeba Riddick. For those who came in late, Riddick and The Underdogs first collaborated on Katherine McPhee's "Do What You Do", taken from her self-titled debut album. Expect to hear big things from them in the next coming months!!!

[Visit] Gyrlfriend @ MySpace

[Read] Makeba Riddick - Monica Mania Xclusive Interview

Source

Singer/actress Jennifer Lopez has earmarked 9^th October as the release-date of her upcoming album, “Brave”, which will be distributed via Sony Music. The set features collaborations with Corey Rooney (Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey), Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean (Angie Stone, Jennifer Hudson), Jermaine Dupri (Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson), Jonathan “J.R.” Rotem (Britney Spears, Christina Milian), Midi Mafia (Fantasia, Brick & Lace), Bryan Michael Cox (Faith Evans, Gwen Stefani), Tim “Timbaland” Mosley (Madonna, Ashlee Simpson) and songwriting team The Clutch: - Ezekiel Lewis, Keri Lewis, Candice Nelson, J. Que and Balewa Muhammed. Some of the joints expected on “Brave” are: - “Still From Da Block”, “Skip the Blues (Not Me)”, “Heart Break” and “Wrong When You’re Gone”.

Source

MTV2 VJ Amanda Diva has reportedly replaced Natalie "The Floacist" Stewart as the 2^nd half of Neo-Soul group Floetry, which also consists of Marsha "The Songstress" Ambrosius. Their last album, "Flo'Ology", was released in 2005 via Geffen Records. It also boasted collaborations with Raphael Saadiq (Erykah Badu, Joss Stone), Scott Storch (Kelly Rowland, Silena Murrell) and Keith Pelzer (Syleena Johnson, Jill Scott).

While we're on the subject of Floetry, fans of "The Songstress" will be happy to learn that she's penning songs on the forthcoming albums by J Records Soul Triplets: -Alicia Keys, Jazmine Sullivan and Emily King. There's still no word on her solo album though!!!

Source

R&B vocalist Tamar Braxton has stopped performing along with sister Toni during her stint at the Las Vegas show, “Toni Braxton: Revealed”, so she could prepare for her upcoming sophomore album due next year via J Records. This will be the follow-up to, “Tamar”, which was released in 1999 via DreamWorks. Among the contributors on that CD were Jermaine Dupri (Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson), Bryan Michael Cox (Faith Evans, Claudette Ortiz), Tamara Savage (Mario Vazquez, LeToya Luckett), Tim Kelley & Bob Robinson (Jennifer Lopez, Mya), Missy Elliot (Fantasia, Whitney Houston) and Tricky Stewart (Rihanna, Britney Spears). Wonder if she’ll re-collaborate with any of them this time around!!!