British vocalist Lemar Obika will release his upcoming 4^th studio album, “The Reason”, on 24^th November via Epic Records. The set is preceded by lead single “If She Knew”, co-written and produced by Soulshock & Karlin: Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin (Usher Raymond, Tracie Spencer, Mario Barrett).

Other album contributors include Jim Jonsin (LeToya Luckett, Beyonce Knowles), Kara DioGuardi (Nick Lachey, Jesse McCartney), Jack Splash (Estelle Swaray, Jamie Foxx), Taj Jackson (Kelly Rowland, Lionel Richie), Full Phatt: Matt Ward & Dean Gillard (Mutya Buena, Jade Ewen), Jim Beanz (Ashlee Simpson, Craig David) and Salaam Remi (Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis).

Lemar Obika – The Reason [Official Track List]:

01 – The Reason

02 – Weight of the World

03 – Heartbreaker

04 – If She Knew

05 – Trust Me

06 – Over You

07 – Mayday

08 – Wait Forever

09 – Not What You Say

10 – Black Tide

Danish production duo Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin are among musicians backing Alesha Dixon on her forthcoming sophomore album, “The Alesha Show”, which is due on 17^th November via Asylum / Atlantic Records. The hitmakers are best known for their work with Keyshia Cole (“Fallin’ Out”), Solange Knowles (“Sandcastle Disco”) and Kelly Rowland (“Still in Love with My Ex”).

Look out for more Soulshock & Karlin on the next projects by Whitney Houston [J Records], Toni Braxton [Atlantic Records], Lemar [Epic Records], Esmee Denters [Tennman / Interscope Records], Samantha Jade [Jive Records], Meleni Smith [Soulpower Records] and Pixie Lott [Mercury Records].

Here is the video for Usher Raymond’s new single, “Trading Places”, taken from his latest album, “Here I Stand”. The track was co-written by Terius “Dream” Nash (Jesse McCartney, Britney Spears) and produced by Carlos “L.O.S Da Maestro” McKinney (Chris Brown, Karina Pasian).

[Watch] Usher Raymond - Trading Places

Tynisha Keli is out with the video for her new single, “I Wish You Loved Me”, which was produced by The Corna Boyz: Pierre Medor & Dwayne Nesmith (Keri Hilson, LeToya Luckett). The track is taken from her upcoming debut album, “The Chronicles of TK”.

The Warner Brothers / Atlantic project boasts additional contributions from Jonathan “J.R.” Rotem (Livvi Franc, Rihanna Fenty), Kara DioGuardi (Natalie Imbruglia, Kylie Minogue), Beau Dozier (Joss Stone, Nicole Scherzinger), Makeba Riddick (Beyonce Knowles, Michelle Williams), James Poyser (Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill), Schaffer “Ne-Yo” Smith (Leona Lewis, Christina Milian), Taurian “Adonis” Shropshire (Keyshia Cole, Jennifer Lopez), Robin Thicke (Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson) and Bryan Michael Cox (Faith Evans, Mary J. Blige).

[Watch] Tynisha Keli - I Wish You Loved Me

Here is the video for Katy Perry’s new single, “Hot N Cold”, taken from her debut offering, “One of the Boys”. The track was helmed by Martin “Max Martin” Sandberg and Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald, who previously collaborated with the artist on the number 1 smash hit, “I Kissed a Girl”.

[Watch] Katy Perry - Hot N Cold

Dear Monica Mania Readers,

I’ve recently created a new blog entitled Musicians’ Galore where I celebrate my favorite songwriters and producers by compiling some of their biggest hits (and personal favorites of mine) in a single Mixtape, so head over there and check out which musician I’ve chosen for the month of October 2008.

Hope you’ll enjoy this blog as much as I enjoyed creating it!

Love always,

Hamada

[Visit] Musicians' Galore

Here is the video for Sean Garrett's new single, "6 in the Morning", taken from his debut album, "Turbo 919". The track was co-written and produced by Carols "L.O.S Da Maestro" McKinney (Chris Brown, Dear Jayne, Karina Pasian).

"Turbo 919" features additional productions from Bloodshy & Avant: Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg (Leon Jean Marie, Christina Milian), Stargate: Tor Erik Hermansen & Mikkel Storleer Eriksen (Usher Raymond, Janet Jackson), Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins (Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston), Allaune "Akon" Thiam (Gwen Stefani, Nicole Scherzinger), The Avila Brothers: Bobby Ross Avila & Issiah Avila (Deborah Cox, Chante Moore) and Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes (Solange Knowles, Justin Timberlake).

[Watch] Sean Garrett - 6 in the Morning

Keri Hilson is out with the new single “Return the Favor”, taken from her upcoming debut album, “In a Perfect World”. The track was helmed by frequent collaborator Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley, who also worked with singer/songwriter on tracks performed by Omarion Grandberry (“Icebox”), Nicole Scherzinger (“Physical”), Danity Kane (“Right Now”) and Pussycat Dolls (“Wait a Minute”).

Other album contributors on “In a Perfect World” are Jamal “Polow Da Don” Jones (Mario Barrett, Keyshia Cole), Nate “Danja” Hills (Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears), The Runawayz: Sam Watters & Louis Biancaniello (Leona Lewis, Natasha Bedingfield), Rico Love (Usher Raymond, Beyonce Knowles), The Corna Boyz: Pierre Medor & Dwayne Nesmith (Megan Rochell, Brooke Valentine), Durrell “Tank” Babbs (Aaliyah Haughton, Kelly Rowland) and The Clutch: Balewa Muhammad, Candice Nelson, Ezekiel Lewis & Patrick “J.Que” Smith (Jesse McCartney, Fantasia Barrino).

[Listen] Keri Hilson - Return the Favor

Pop artist Paris Hilton will release “My BFF” as the lead single from her forthcoming sophomore album. The as yet untitled project is the follow-up to Hilton’s debut offering, “Paris”, which boasted productions from Scott Storch (Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson), Fernando Garibay (Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Lopez), Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald (Kelly Clarkson, Jeannie Ortega), Jonathan “J.R.” Rotem (Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Hudgens) and Greg Wells (Michelle Branch, Katy Perry), as well as songwriting contributions by Kara DioGuardi (Ashlee Simpson, Lindsay Lohan), Penelope Magnet (Britney Spears, Mya Harrison), Billy Steinberg (Madonna, Celine Dion), Josh Alexander (Leona Lewis, Joanna Levesque) and Evan “Kidd” Bogart (Christina Milian, Brandy Norwood).

Soul vocalist Goapele is out with a new joint entitled “Don’t Be Shy”, which is slotted for inclusion on her upcoming 4^th studio album. The track was produced by Skyblaze musician Dan Lawrence. As previously reported, Kerry “Krucial” Brothers (Alicia Keys, Keyshia Cole) and Tony Reyes (Janet Jackson, Christina Aguilera) are among the hitmakers backing the “Closer” singer on the yet to be titled project.

[Listen] Goapele - Don't Be Shy