[ON THE SET: SPOTLIGHT]

Jennifer Hudson recently shot the video for Spotlight, the first single from her forthcoming debut album. Entertainment Tonight got behind the scenes for an interview; check out the clip [above].

[UNEXPECTED PROMOTION]

Michelle Williams stopped by FUSE && MTV to premiere We Break The Dawn, the first single off of her forthcoming project, Unexpected, which is set to drop this August. Check out the clips [below] as well as the official album cover [above]!

[HEAVEN SENT LIVE]

Earlier this week Keyshia Cole stopped by
the Late Show with David Letterman && performed her
latest single Heaven Sent. Watch the clip [above].

[I GET JOY]

[|I Get Joy| - Coko]

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
and your lips with shouts of joy."
[Job 8:21]

[SOLANGEL LATELY]

Solange made a few stops through TV Land last week to premiere the I Decided video. If you keep up with [the addicted.] you should already know that I Decided is the first single off of Solange's sophomore project, SoL-AnGeL And The Hadley Street Dreams. Check out the videos [above] of Solangel on MTV && BET as well as the I Decided [Part 2] video && a clip of 6 O'Clock Blues Live from the Art of Love Tour[below].

[LI-LI-LI-LIVE]

Lil' Wayne came through the Jimmy Kimmel Live show earlier this week and performed his hit single, Lollipop, which is off of his latest album, Tha Carter III which sold over 1 million copies within the first week. Check out the performance clip above!

[THOMAS DORSEY//THROWBACK]

After formally studying music in Chicago, the then Paramount Records agent, Thomas Andrew Dorsey, put together a band for jazz singer Ma Rainey. After playing rent parties as Barrelhouse Tom, Texas Tommy && most famously Georgia Tom, Dorsey faced personal tragedy which led him to leave secular music behind. He then began composing and recording. what he was first to call, "gospel" music. Shortly after his first wife died during childbirth in 1932 along with his first child, Thomas wrote one of the most famous gospel songs of all time, Take My Hand, Precious Lord. Not only was the song a favorite of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but it was also recorded by many artists including Elvis Presley && Aretha Franklin. Fast forward to now, over 70 years later and, the now deceased, Dorsey is known as the Father of Gospel music. Check out these throwback clips [below]; Thomas Dorsey discusses the beginning of Gospel music && performs Precious Lord.

[A CLOSER WALK]

[|JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE| - MAHALIA JACKSON]

"Let us draw near to God
with a sincere heart in
full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled
to cleanse us from a guilty conscience
and having our bodies washed with pure water."
[Hebrews 10:22]

[STEVIE//THROWBACK]

Back in 1962, Motown CEO Berry Gordy took a chance a signed a twelve year old boy, then known as Little Stevie Wonder. His first hit single Fingertips [Part 2], which featured Stevie on bongos, vocals, harmonica as well as another young cat named Marvin Gaye on the drums, hit #1 on the U.S. pop charts and began the successful career of a then very young man.Within the past 45 years, Stevie Wonder has released over 30 albums && received many accolades, but more importantly inspired many singers, writers, && musicians, including myself. Check out these throwback performance clips [below]; Stevie sings Don't Know Why I Love You [Introduction by a young Diana Ross], My Cherie Amor && For Once In My Life.

[SEEING SOUNDS]

N.E.R.D's third studio album, Seeing Sounds, hits stores today. Stimulated by a neurological phenomenon [synesthesia], the album includes the first single Everybody Nose [All The Girls Standing In The Line For The Bathroom] as well as Spaz, which is featured on the Zune pass commercials. Although not included on the disc, the Everybody Nose remix hit the net a few weeks back && features Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco && Pusha T. N.E.R.D is currently on Kanye West's Glow In The Dark Tour along with Rihanna. Check out the video for Everybody Nose as well as a performance clip from San Diego stop of The Glow In The Dark Tour [below] && be sure to cop Seeing Sounds today!

[THA CARTER 3]

Although I have never really been a fan of Lil' Wayne, after taking a listen to his 6th studio album, Tha Carter 3, I had to warn you guys about the release. Tha Carter 3 hits stores everywhere today and I must admit...this album is dope! The hit single, Lollipop which features the now deceased Static Major [R.I.P.] is included on the album along with Mr. Carter which features the original Mr. Carter himself, Jay-Z. Also featured on Weezy's new LP; T-Pain, Babyface, Robin Thicke, Bobby Valentino, Brisco, Busta Rhymes, Betty Wright, Fabolous && Juelz Santana. The stand out track for me would have to be the Swizz Beatz produced, Dr. Carter. Check out the video for the first single, Lollipop && be sure to cop Tha Carter 3 today!

[|NO SUBSTITUTE LOVE|]

Here is the video for No Substitute Love, the third single off of Estelle's Shine. The video for the Wyclef Jean produced track includes a few cameos including Kelly Rowland. Shine is in stores now everywhere, if you haven't heard it yet, be sure to give it a spin.

[|GOOD IN THE HOOD|]

Check out the brand new video [below] for Good In The Hood off of Tye Tribbett && Greater Anointing's latest project, Stand Out. The video was shot in Tye's hometown Camden, New Jersey last month. If you haven't picked up Stand Out yet...stop drop and roll...to a local store, Amazon.com or even Itunes NOW! Also, be sure to check out behind the scenes footage && more on TyeTribTv.

[WENDY'S SHOW]

The infamous radio jock && self-proclaimed Queen of All Media, Wendy Williams will finally be making her long awaited major television debut this summer. Check out these clips of a couple of the interviews from her radio show, The Wendy Williams Experience [below]. Would you like to be a part of her live audience?
Click on the link after the videos!

[Whitney Houston Interview]


[Karrine Stefans Interview]

www.wendywilliamstvshow.com/

[BOOTSY//THROWBACK]

In 1968, a 17 year old Bootsy Collins formed a group, The Pacemakers, with his brother and some friends. Two years later, The Pacemakers became knowns as the J.B.'s once they became the backing band for the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. After Collins && Brown began to clash, Bootsy formed yet another group, The House Guests before meeting George Clinton in 1972 && becoming the lead basist for Parliament. Whether as a member of one of many groups or on his own, Bootsy Collin's bass guitar skills && comical yet groovy vocals helped establish him as one of the stellar leaders of funk. Check out these throwback clips [below]; Bootsy performs Sex Machine [with James Brown], Stretchin' Out, && I'd Rather Be With You.

[|I DECIDED|]

FINALLY! The video for Solange's first single, I Decided, off of her upcoming sophomore effort SoL-AnGeL And The Hadley Street Dreams premiered last night on BET's Access Granted. The video is a "cosmic journey" through time beginning in the 60s and ending with SoL-AnGeL finding the man that she decided was the one for her. Check out the video [above] as well as a clip [below] of Solange performing the track on the Kansas City stop of The Art of Love Tour. The most anticipated album of the summer, SoL-AnGeL And The Hadley Street Dreams, is set to drop on August 26th!

[|GIRLS AROUND THE WORLD|]

Check out the video for Girls Around The World, the second single off of Lloyd's third studio album, Lessons In Love. Girls Around The World features Lil' Wayne and [the video] was shot in Miami directed by Hype Williams. Lessons In Love is set to hit stores everywhere July 22!

[JANET TV]

Janet Jackson is back on TV this week, this time to promote her upcoming Rock Witchu Tour. Tickets go on sale June 7th but the tour isn't set to jump off until September 10th. This will be Janet's first tour since the All For You Tour back in 2002. Check out these clips [above] of Janet on 106 && Park as well as The View.

[DUMB DUMB DUMB]

Chilli, former member of one of the greatest selling girl groups of all time TLC, is currently preparing for the release of her solo debut album. The first single, Dumb Dumb Dumb, is online and radios everywhere right now. Check out this clip [below] of Chilli && Crystal Johnson, who wrote the track as well as Mariah Carey's Touch My Body, talking about Dumb Dumb Dumb. In other news, Usher is making some really tacky and unproffesional moves right now. Unless you live under a rock you know that Usher && Chilli dated for many years. A few months back Chilli stated that although she is no longer in love with Usher, she will always love him. Not only does he throw shade on Best Thing, a track from his new album Here I Stand but when asked about Chili recently he responded very rudely. "I mean, I think it’s a little unrealistic, I’m married (laughs), I’m not a boy. It’s been three years past, you know? But we all have unrealistic goals too. Like shoot, I will always forever love Katie Holmes and Halle Berry. I don’t feel anyway about it. It does appear maybe to be a plug for something. She got a record coming or something?" Usher said. No disrespect Ush, but I advise you to check yourself before you wreck yourself. Anyway, keep your eyes && ears out for Chilli && her new project!

[OBAMA WINS NOMINATION]

CNN has projected that Senator Barack Obama has secured enough delegates to win the Democratic nomination. In honor of the first African-American to lead a U.S. major-party ticket, check out these videos [above] of various artists banding together to support Obama, who just may be the United States' first black president, as well as the clip produced by Mary Mary && featuring a few of their friends also showing support [below]!

[SUMMER JAM 2008]

New York's premier hip hop radio station, Hot97, held their annual Summer Jam concert this past weekend at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Performers included Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Ray J, Yung Berg, The Dream, Lil' Wayne, Maino, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Sheek Louch, Styles P, Jadakiss, Fabolous, Fat Joe, N.O.R.E, Swizz Beatz, Red Café && LL Cool J. Above you see a portion of Alicia's set where she brought out a few special guests && below check out Kanye performing Flashing Lights
as well as the remix to Lollipop with Lil' Wayne.

[2008 MTV MOVIE AWARDS]

The 2008 MTV Movie Awards aired last night. Jennifer Hudson, Will Smith, Megan Good, T.I., Chris Brown along with [girlfriend] Rihanna [&& many more] were in attendance. Check out this clip [above] of a skit from the show where Chris Brown battles the host for the night, Mike Myers, as well as pictures from last nights event [below].

[MORE SOL-ANGEL]

This new promo picture [above] just gave me another reason to post more about Solange && her new project. While we wait for the I Decided video to premiere on BET's Access Granted this Thursday [6.05], check out her tour dates [below], a behind the scenes clip from the I Decided video shoot [below] as well as [the addicted.] Hadley Street Preview we posted last month. Also, check out Solange's new blog, The Hadley Street Journal, which is also on [the addicted.] network.

[JAPANESE VMA'S]

MTV's Japan division held their 2008 Video Music Awards this weekend. Not only was Mariah Carey awarded as the MTV Video Vangiard of the year, she also hit the stage and peformed I'll Be Loving U Long Time, off of her latest album E=MC2. Along with Mariah; Ne-yo was awarded Best Male Video [Because of You], Fergie Best Female [Big Girls Don't Cry] && Avril Lavigne Best Pop Video [Girlfriend]. Check out Mariah's performance [above] && pictures from the 2008 MTV VMA's Japan red carpet [below].