If you think Milk is O.D.’ing on Maxwell this week, tough. It’s been 8 long years for the fans, so we are gladly soaking up as much of him as we can in honor of the new album, Black Summers Night.

I woke up bright and early this morning to see him tape a segment for CBS’ “Early Show” here in Manhattan that airs on Friday, July 10. The video is a bit shaky — kinda hard to get a clear shot when you’re 5′2″ and a 6′5″ dude is standing in front of you. SMH. — yet the performance was amazing as always.

Watch “Bad Habits” and “Sumthin’ Sumthin’” now.

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When it comes to pairing witty, cogent lyrics with interesting beats and concepts, Wale has a lot of these rookies beat hands down. Listen to the latest release from his official debut, Attention: Deficit, dropping this September.

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Maxwell’s new CD Black Summers’ Night finally hits stores tomorrow. (Yay! Hallelujah, praise Jesus, praise Jesus…)

Watch clips from the accompanying DVD 5 Days of Black where he discusses the inspiration behind the songs and listen to a preview of the full album now.

The Making of “Pretty Wings”

The Making of “Stop the World”

The Making of “Help Somebody”

The Making of “Cold”

Black Summers’ Night Full Album Preview

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Unfortunately, all the positive press hasn’t helped Asher Roth at the cash registers. After over a month in stores, his Asleep in the Bread Aisle has only moved 112,000 copies. Here’s a random sampling of how everyone else is doing:

PLATINUM AND WATCHING YOU GET DIZZIER
Beyonce, I Am…Sasha Fierce - 2.2 million
Kanye West, 808’s & Heartbreak - 1.5 million
Usher, Here I Stand - 1.2 million
Ne-Yo, Year of the Gentleman - 1 million

DOOKIE GOLD ROPE
Jamie Foxx, Intuition - 921,000
Keyshia Cole, A Different Me - 870,000
Young Jeezy, The Recession - 842,000
Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Hudson - 731,000

BAMBOO EARRINGS, AT LEAST 2 PAIR
The-Dream, Love vs. Money - 370,000
Prince, Lotus Flow3r - 325,000
Keri Hilson, In a Perfect World - 280,000
Jadakiss, The Last Kiss - 259,000

AFRICAN MEDALLION
Day 26, Forever in a Day - 192,000
Raphael Saadiq, The Way I See It - 181,000
Asher Roth, Asleep in the Bread Aisle - 112,000
Mike Jones, The Voice - 39,000

Figures are estimated totals to date according to Nielsen Soundscan.

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During an appearance on the Mutha Knows show on Blog Talk Radio, Stephanie Mills revealed that she once had a very big crush on Michael Jackson.

“I thought I was gonna marry Michael. I was so in love with Michael. This was during the time when he was doing The Wiz movie and before that,” Stephanie said. “I knew Michael because he used to come to the show all the time and hang out backstage with me. Michael was really, really shy. But back then, I was aggressive. I was determined I was gonna be his girlfriend. He didn’t know, but I was.”

“When he had his place on Sutton Place [in Manhattan], I would spend the night and I would do his laundry. It was Tide. I should do a Tide commercial, huh? And I even cooked for him – even though I couldn’t cook. But you know what? Even as bad as it was, Michael was such a gentleman, he still ate it.”

Listen to the full interview below.

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So glad this song made it onto Busta’s upcoming album, Back on My B.S. I first got a chance to hear it at the listening session back in ‘08 when the album was titled Blessed. Straight fire!

Busta Rhymes “Decisions” feat. Jamie Foxx, Common, Mary J. Blige, & John Legend

Not sure if I’m completely feeling Em’s track yet. Thoughts?

Eminem “Hello”

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What the sex tape couldn’t accomplish, his new music sure will. When it comes to ruining R. Kelly’s career, that is. Here are just a couple reasons we think The Pied Piper’s greatest hits are truly behind him:

1.  He thinks he’s a rapper now.

R. Kelly featuring OJ Da Juiceman “Supaman High”

2. He’s become a follower and not a leader.

“I’m a Flirt” was cool, but now you sound like Drake meets Kanye West meets T-Pain meets The-Dream. While this song isn’t terrible, it sounds like everything else on the radio which means it will either tank miserably or become a huge hit by default. Guess dude is doing whatever he can to stay relevant, huh?

R. Kelly “No. 1 Fan”

Yet, I’m a firm believer that those with true talent can always bounce back. Let’s just pray Kellz stops listening to the radio and goes back to creating those Chocolate Factory / Loveland / TP-2.Com classics again. Real R&B, stand up!

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At first, I thought Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey’s relationship was a pure sham concocted either a) during an unfortunate drunken weekend in Vegas, or b) as a publicity scheme dreamed up to boost their careers. (Translation: his career since Mimi could make the phone book go platinum.)

But could their marriage be real, like actually based on love, respect, and trust? It must be to cause dude to contantly snap on folks through his blog. Our boy Nick has been on a straight nobody-bet-not-say-nothin-bout-my-wife mission lately.

Look how he called out Eminem for the leaked song “Bagpipes From Baghdad:

“At first I thought it was old material that had been dug up from when dude “fantasized” about having a pretend fling with Mariah. So as I further examine the track, I hear dude cross the line. He begins to call my wife out of her name! Now as y’all know, I don’t take that type of nonsense lightly. So on some grown man sh*t I’m instantly like, I got to get at this Lame…Marshall Mathers, you need to holler at me on some grown man sh*t. Man to man, let’s meet up and deal with this like adults…So Miss Marshall, I’m going to make you wish you never spoke my name and regret the ungodly things you said about my wife. This is going to be fun! It’s however you want it! Just remember, you did this to yourself! Your legacy has now been tainted from this day forth! You will now be known as the rapper who lost to Corny-a** Nick Cannon!”

On speculation that Mariah is pregnant:

“The media should just relax. Yes, we want to have children. Yes, we will have children one day. I am speaking it into existence!  When it happens, we will tell you all. We promise! Just out of pure respect to all women in general, it is a rule that you never assume or ask a woman if she is pregnant. So can you all please give my wife that respect? When she is ready to tell the world she is having a baby she will. ”

On rumors that he owed his jeweler money:

“Ridiculous! I just got like 3 new major multi million dollar deals in the last 2 months. And I ain’t even finish yet… But now I’m broke, okay! Where do these people get this stuff. First off, I wish my wife’s ring did only cost $500,000 that would have been a deal!… Do your research and you will see how much I really paid for it. I don’t like to disclose or brag about those things because it’s not really anyone’s business but it was quite public what I PAID. Mostly because when my wife and I first got married people were lying and saying the ring was used or that I re-gifted it!LMFAO.

So after we cleared that up, almost a year later they come with some more ring drama. Well since my anniversary is coming up I think I might just have to by a whole new joint for my beautiful wife, just to STUNT! And as for the payment plan thing, I wish that was true or possible!! Sh*t, it’s a recession, I would take a lay-away plan in a minute! Hahhaahaa!! But one thing that is true, I would spend every last dime that I have ever made on my wife, she deserves to be showered with extraordinary gifts and as long as I live I will spend all my money on her and never touch a dime of hers.”

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