Today's Pick

Leah LaBelle, who finished 12th on American Idol's third season as the wild card selection of Paula Abdul, makes her introduction in a colorful video for her new summery two-step tune, "Sexify," as her debut single and leading from her debut album, receiving high praise from R&B fans for its throwback sound. The Seattle hailing singer will drop her debut in late summer/early fall on I-Am-Other/So So Def/Epic Records for which a 5-track sampler has already been released.
That was in 2004; yes, it's been that long ago. Since then, the "American Idol" alum is done some industry things–working with Keri Hilson, working the YouTube channels–and wound up as a protégée to Pharrell and Jermaine Dupri. The fun song's actually pretty good: fun uptempo R&B, a little bit of a throwback, with more playfulness in the voice and percussion than you might normally get. The 25-year-old Canadian newest signees takes things to another level adding on her uptempo R&B joint "Sexify," in which she instructs ladies how to keep their man coming back, was nice enough to make it on our collective playlist of hot singles.
LaBelle's debut video was directed by Sarah Chatfield, and shot in Los Angeles back in March and will feature cameo appearances from Jermaine Dupri as LaBelle's landlord, Pharrell Williams as a pizza delivery guy, and friend singer/actress JoJo. In the clip, LaBelle is the best girlfriend with the most ultimate closet that you never had. Homegirl will get on the phone with you for hours on end telling you in explicit detail how to get your man back. And then she'll invite you over for pizza.
When her brokenhearted girlfriends need relationship advice, LaBelle gets ready for a girl's night in and to explain how to spice things up in the bedroom and win her ex over. Her phone never stops ringing, whether she's in the bathttub or going through her wardrobe. Then Dupri busts in on the party-for-one, yelling at LaBelle to turn her music down. She blows him off, continues rocking out and orders a pizza delivered by Williams. In the end, she meets up with her girlfriends including JoJo for a pizza party.

A new dance-infused video for Michael Jackson's current single "Hollywood Tonight" has debuted via the pop star's official website. The Teddy Riley produced song is the second official single taken from the late King of Pop's posthumous release "Michael," and one of its standout tracks. The storyline of "Hollywood Tonight" charts the journey of a young woman arriving in Hollywood from small town America as she follows her dream to be a star; though her ambition is to be a dancer, her story represents the struggle for every artist or musician struggling to make it in the world.
Originally written during the recording of 2001's "Invincible" album, this song warns about the dangers of chasing your dream in Tinseltown. It received its television debut on last December when talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres premiered the tune on The Ellen DeGeneres Show while dancing throughout the audience. Riley told Billboard magazine that he had Jackson's more danceable hits in mind when concocting its sound. "I was looking at just doing the next level of 'Billie Jean' meets 'Dangerous' or 'Doggin' Me Around,'" said the producer." "It's like one of those driving bass lines that you will remember."
The Wayne Isham-directed video was filmed last month on the sidewalk of the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood and over 60 dancers were on the set as they joined the female lead in an MJ-inspired dance routine. Flashdance, Showgirls, Burlesque...all these things have one thing in common. The video is a sweet story, follows the journey of a young and feisty woman, who idolizes Jackson, played by Algeria-born hip hop dancer Sofia Boutella, arrives in Hollywood on a bus to pursue her dream in hope to become a professional dancer.
The French dancer steps off a charter bus, suitcase in tow, ready to take on the big city. She moonlights as a waitress by day, a stripper by night, hits the audition circuit to no avail. She incorporates many of Jackson's signature dance moves into her own style and wears costumes similar to those worn by the late King of Pop. And she eventually has an emotional moment next to Jackson's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and recaptures her passion for dancing. "Her story represents the struggle for every artist or musician struggling to make it in the world," so Sony Music explains about the video. Jackson will long be remembered for his groundbreaking music videos and "Hollywood Tonight" is hoped to once again offer an innovative visual pairing to the erstwhile King of Pop's music.

The R&B crooner Elliott Yamin's primary claim to fame was finishing third on the fifth season of American Idol. A likable performer with a knack for romantic soul ballads and a laid-back stage presence, Yamin was a fan favorite from the start and ultimately made it to the final-three round along with eventual runner-up Katharine McPhee and eventual winner Taylor Hicks. Since then he has released the hit single "Wait For You," and two albums.
Now Yamin is back with his follow-up third album "Gather 'Round," which contains 12 tracks and was released on February 2nd exclusively in Japan first, and he said on Twitter that it will probably include a few different tracks when its released in the US later in the year. Yamin looks old school classy on new album's cover, which is fine & all, but I hope it sounds more like his last album! The 32-year-old soul and smooth jazz singer from southern California has just been released the new music video for the new album's lead single, "3 Words." The song has is a soulful mid-tempo track that showcases Yamin's strong and unique vocal ability. The chorus builds a little unexpectedly but the track is still solid.
Overall "Gather 'Round" proves that Yamin has grown and matured as an artist. The album is very cohesive and features very solid music. The feel of the album especially in the last half is decidedly retro. This kind of style definitely works well for Yamin. "My goal was to make a singer's record and make it as genuine as possible -- make it who I am. I still have to work on my songwriting skills. I'm green to that process. But I worked with some talented people," he said. Will Yamin be able to recapture the success of "Wait For You?"
Having a persona that is indefinable and a life story so inspiring, Yamin owns the ultimate combination that makes people grow interest in him. Under such publication and high motivation, Yamin can easily butter up his way to reign music industry. Yamin is now arguably more popular in Japan, which has embraced many an American act. Hot off a short Japanese tour promoting his new Japanese release "Gather 'Round," Yamin will be making a trip to his home state of Virginia. On February 26th, he will be performing for the Meherrin River Arts Council Concert Series in Emporia, VA.

"I want to bring the emotion to life," Bruno Mars looked all sorts of gloomy in his piano-pushing video for "Grenade," the official second single from his debut album "Doo-Wops & Hooligans," which was released October 4. If you thought Mars was just about happy, cheerful pop songs, "Grenade" is your wake-up call. He has been wronged, and now he's telling the tale. This immaculately constructed pop song takes its place among the great break-up songs. The 25-year-old Hawaii born singer-songwriter brings class back to music and cements his position as the top new artist of 2010.
The midtempo ballad is classic pop song construction with romantic depth. With a soulful voice and even more harmonious tunes, one man has captured the hearts of girls everywhere. The reviewers praising the vocals and emotional lyrics of the heartbreak song. Lyrically, the "Grenade" contains masochistic themes and tells the story of heartbreak caused by a failed relationship. Although the new track begins rather calmly, it gathers steam in no time, as its pulsating, synthesized beats gradually crescendo to a climax. As the music builds, Mars's voice and emotions build to a similarly furious apex, as he recounts the painful story of how one girl broke his heart in spite of his best efforts.
It's not only men who can be lousy and uncaring in a romantic relationship, and Mars knows that. He's a born romantic who has had his heart stomped flat. He is so desperate to impress his hard-to-please girl on this song, that he assures her he would catch a grenade for her, along with other assorted foolhardy acts. He said the original inspiration for this track came from a songwriter friend of his, Benny Blanco, "I started writing my version, basically. It's a heartbreaking, heartbreak song, and I think everyone can relate to that. You're so in love with this woman and you don't understand, 'What am I doing wrong? What am I not giving to you? I'll go as far as putting as putting a bullet in my brain for you, and why can't I get that kind of love in return?'"
On his website he wrote "The song is about loving someone so deeply, and the pain of knowing that the person you love does not feel the same. The actions in this video serve as a metaphor, and should not be taken literally." Mars wants to explode like a "Grenade" in Nabil-directed video. He works hard all the way to win the heart of his love interest, dragging a heavy piano through the streets of Los Angeles only to find her in the arms of another man. Instead of throwing rants, he quietly drags the piano back with him and ends up alone and frustrated in a railway. As the light flashes and the horn sends loud voice, a train is speeding into his direction before everything turns into black. It is sort of sad, really. Mars explained, "The concept of the video is my struggle, to tell his girl I'd do anything for her, so I'm going as far as dragging a piano to get to her just so I can sing my heart out."
With "Grenade," Mars further distances himself from his smoove-crooning contemporaries, and he does it simply by being real. Really dramatic, really emotional, really clever. This one's a winner, even if, at the end of it, Mars has lost everything. That's the price you pay for falling in love.

R&B upstart Iyaz has already scored a chart-topping smash with the sunny, Caribbean-flecked flashback ditty "Replay;" now he seems poised to do the same with new single "Solo." The song's melody is sampled from Janet Jackson's 1993 single "Again" without directly sampling either the main hook or re-upping the lyrics directly. The official music video for "Solo" was shot in Tortola, British Virgin Islands and it features the singer strolling down the street during a sunny day with beautiful scenery from the beach captured along the way.
The new single "Solo" is the second single and produced by J. R. Rotem, off his upcoming album titled "My Life" which is due to arrive in the US stores on April 27. The new single "Solo" already has millions of hits on YouTube since it was posted on January 26, and is expected to be released in the UK on May 2. The track is aimed to follow up the album's lead single "Replay" which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100 and ruled the UK Singles chart for two weeks in a row.
Countless hooks in R&B and hip-hop are built, of course, on borrowing; you could say Iyaz is just aiming to compete a land of Jason Derulos and Jay-Zs. And maybe it feels unfair to call him out for not taking enough of the song to make it more than just naggingly familiar. When asked what he wants to achieve, Iyaz said, "I don't want the fame. Just put me in the studio and let me do me. Let me do what everybody fell in love with, which is make good quality music for people to listen to - feel good music."
Iyaz's publicity openly acknowledges the connection, but it still feels a little squirrelly, especially considering many of the 22-year-old singer's young fans probably aren't familiar with Jackson's nearly two-decade-old hit. Undoubtedly, the song will put some residuals cash in Janet's jumpsuit pocket, and also very likely save Iyaz from one-hit-wonderdom forever. So in the end, it mostly comes down to the listener.

American Grammy Award-winning record producer, singer and rapper Timbaland is coming to a museum in the music video for his latest single "If We Ever Meet Again", a song about flirting with a stranger at a club, teaming with "I Kissed a Girl" hitmaker Katy Perry, who has at least traded up since her last "featured" appearance.
Timbaland lends his AutoTuned vocals to the song "If We Ever Meet Again", which is the fourth single from über producer's latest third studio album, "Shock Value II". The song will serve as the second official new single in the UK, being released on February 15.
Timbaland told MTV that will.i.am's work on "I Gotta Feeling" inspired him to make "If We Ever Meet Again". The music video was filmed in December 2009. It was directed by Paul "Coy" Allen, who directed "Morning After Dark" and "Say Something". He added that he wants the video to be serious and maybe have Bitchy Perry playing his guardian angel: "I wanna make something deep, I don't know if I wanna make it like a relationship. I wanna make it like she saved my life with whatever depression I was going through, whether it be drug depression, weight-loss depression — something. ... Will she be around if I go through this again?" Not sure we picked that up in, but we did get a four minute music video incarnation of The Thomas Crown Affair.
The Paul "Coy" Allen directed video follows a beautiful woman who makes headlines as a burglary suspect. Timbaland picked a curious moment to start outright singing on his own tracks, but he's the most influential producer of the decade, he's earned it. The chorus is perfect for huge crowd sing-a-longs, and we'll probably have to bash our heads against the wall a couple hundred times to get it out of of our brain, so well done, Timbaland, for dishing out yet another song that will be played on the radio nonstop.