After Lyfe Jennings released his debut album 268-192, earning critical acclaim and platinum sales, the singer/songwriter has remained a constant figure in the R&B market. No longer signed to Sony Entertainment, the Ohio native has recently inked a label deal with Warner Bros. Records for his Jesus Swings imprint and fourth album.

Continuing with the theme of change, Jennings has also parted ways with his former management team, and is now being led by Manny Halley, CEO of Imani Entertainment and manager of R&B songstress Keyshia Cole.

“Manny is the first manager who I really feel gets me,” says Jennings. “And just like he’s done great things with superstar Keyshia Cole, we’re gonna do great things together; for music and our communities.”

“It isn’t every day, let alone in an economy such as the one we have, that an artist can leave a label, ink a multi-million dollar deal and do it all with a positive message,” declares Manny Halley. “It’s a pleasure to witness good still reaping good.”

Currently, Lyfe Jennings is working on his new album on Warner Bros. Records, tentatively scheduled for a summer release date.

Grand Puba, hip-hop legend and founding member of the seminal rap group Brand Nubian, has signed with independent record label Babygrande Records for the release of his fourth solo album, Retroactive.

“Grand Puba is the father to so many styles in hip-hop. It’s good to have him back—the game needs him, says Chuck Wilson, CEO of Babygrande Records. “We have a great relationship with Brand Nubian and we had so much success with Lord Jamar’s solo release in 2006 that it only makes sense to keep it in the family,” he added.

Originally a member of the group Masters of Ceremony, Grand Puba left to become the lead emcee of the New Rochelle-based group Brand Nubian, who released the critically acclaimed album One For All in 1990. Shortly after, Puba departed the group to embark on a solo career, releasing three solo albums: Reel 2 Reel (1992), 2000 (1995), and Understand This (2001), only to reunite with Brand Nubian again in 1998, 2004 and 2007 for Foundation, Fire In The Hole, and Time’s Running Out, respectively.

Retroactive
is scheduled to be in stores June 23rd.

Who Is Mike Jones? “Who? Mike Jones.” That’s the rhetorical question Houston rapper Mike Jones asked the world on his debut album. Four years after making sure everyone knew his name, Jones is back to drop his sophomore album entitled The Voice, due in stores April 28th via Ice Age/Swishahouse/Asylum Records.

“For the past four years I have been doing a lot of restructuring: getting this record right, making sure my business is right and more. Now I am ready to finish what I started. I’m hoping my fans will feel The Voice was worth the wait.”

Targeting the attention of the ladies, “Next To You” (produced by J.R. Rotem) is the lead single off the new album. Jones also got production from other beatmakers including: Mannie Fresh, Mr. Collipark and The Package Store, Bigg D and Jim Jonsin, Kojack, Essay Potna, and Mike Dean; as well as guest appearances from Lil’ Wayne, T-Pain, Devin The Dude, Hurricane Chris, and Twista.

Mike Jones is currently readying a promotional tour in support of The Voice and will be in LA on March 17th and 18th, San Francisco on March 19th, and Portland and San Diego on March 20th.

Block Entertainment and Bad Boy South recording artist Gorilla Zoe is returning to release his sophomore album Don’t Feed Da Animals, which arrives in stores and at digital retailers March 17th.

The album’s lead single, “Lost” (produced by Drumma Boy), impacted as the #1 most added song at both Urban and Rhythmic stations. Zoe’s second single, “What It Is,” features Rick Ross and Kollosus.

To support the release of the album, Gorilla Zoe will star in Don’t Feed The Animals, a feature-length film inspired by the album. The film will include five music videos to accompany the tracks “I Am The A,” “Break It Down,” “Talk Back (Feat. Roxy Reynolds),” “100, 50, 20 &10,” and “Dope Boys.”

As previously reported, Gorilla Zoe recently joined Lil’ Wayne as a special guest on his “I Am Music” arena tour.

Don’t Feed Da Animals is the follow-up to his debut album Welcome To The Zoo, which featured the hit “Hood N—a.”

Former Atlantic Records recording artist Saigon, who left the label after his highly anticipated debut album The Greatest Story Never Told was shelved, has entered into a partnership with digital retailer Amalgam Digital. The first project to be released from Saigon on Amalgam Digital will be All In A Day’s Work on March 17th.

Pushing the boundaries of the way music is normally recorded and marketed for release, Saigon expedited the process by completing the album in a 24-hour period. “This album, All In A Day’s Work, is a bonafide hip-hop classic created from beginning to end in twenty four hours,” said Saigon. “It is … a spark in the right direction for the resurgence of East Coast hip-hop,” he added.

DJ/producer Statik Selektah handled the entire production of the project, and was amazed at the efficiency of Saigon’s recording pace for the album, saying: “Working with Saigon in those twenty four hours and getting songs done so fast showed why he should be held as one of the greatest to ever do it

“Spit,” which is the first single off All In A Day’s Work will be featured on the newest edition of the video game series Grand Theft Auto, followed by the newest release and second single “The Rules.”

As a follow-up to All In A Day’s Work, Saigon intends to release Warning Shots 2 via Amalgam Digital, building on the title of his previous album Warning Shots.

Track Listing Below for All In A Day’s Work

1.   To Be Told…

2.   So Cruel

3.   The Rules

4.   My Crew

5.   Prepare For War

6.   Spit

7.   Lady Sings The Blues

8.   Lose Her

9.   Goodbye

10. The Reason

11.  I Warned You (Bonus)*

Long-time fans of Eminem have been anticipating his return for quite some time, and their prayers have been finally answered. After a four-year respite, Eminem is returning to music with the release of his new album Relapse on May 19th via Shady/Aftermath/Interscope.

Making up for lost time, Eminem plans to double up his output by dropping Relapse 2 later this year, saying: “A lot of people were expecting Relapse to drop last year. I was one of them. Then Dre and I went back in the studio in September for a few days, and that turned into six months. We were on such a roll, we wound up with a ton of new music produced by Dre. Putting out Relapse 2 will let everyone get all of the best stuff.”

Last month, the album’s first single “Crack A Bottle” featuring Eminem, Dr. Dre, and 50 Cent was released and immediately soared to #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 charts, setting a record for opening week download sales. The accompanying video for the song is scheduled to debut April 7th.

During an interview late last year on his Shade 45 satellite radio show, Eminem announced his plans for a new album, followed by the freestyle “I’m Having A Relapse, which initiated the anticipation for Eminem’s forthcoming album.

Poe Boy/Atlantic recording artist Flo Rida makes history with the success of his new single “Right Round,” breaking the all-time one week digital single sales record, which he previously held with his 2008 T. Pain assisted single, “Low.”

Since its release on February 10th, the single “Right Round,” featured on Flo Rida’s up-coming album, R.O.O.T.S., has sold over 636,000 downloads, exceeding his previous mark of 467,000 for “Low.” The single also breaks the record for most downloads sold in the first week of release, recently held by Eminem’s current #1 hit, “Crack A Bottle (featuring Dr. Dre and 50 Cent).

The single landed at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart, as well as other digital outlets including Soundscan’s Digital Song Chart, iTunes, Amazon and Rhapsody. “Right Round” is also proving to be a viable single at various radio outlets nationwide, ascending on both the CHR/Top 40 and Rhythmic charts.

On Tuesday, February 24th, Flo Rida is teaming up with MTV to premiere the video for “Right Round,” while Myspace Music will premiere the video for “Shone” on the same day.

Flo Rida’s sophomore album R.O.O.T.S., which is an acronym for “Route of Overcoming the Struggle,” is the follow-up to his debut album, Mail on Sunday, and will feature artists Nelly Furtado, Ne-Yo, and Pleasure P. The album includes production from Jim Jonson, Dr. Luke, Eric Hudson, Mike Caren, and DJ Montay, who produced “Low.”

R.O.O.T.S. drops March 31st at physical and digital retail locations.

Hip-Hop honcho and business mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has announced plans to release his sixth studio album, titled, Last Train to Paris, which is scheduled to hit stores September 22nd.

Being described as a fusion of electro-hip-hop-soul-and-funk, the part-time artist, full-time executive offered his interpretation of his latest offering. “Last Train to Paris is deeper than any of the other stuff I have ever made. It’s a profound love story. It’s me with my shades off. It’s the truth,” says Combs.

“I’ve been a businessman for the past two years. It’s time for me to focus on being an artist again,” explains Combs. “I am going to show the world a new refreshing side of me. Get on or get off!”

Tapping into his rich mine of resources, Combs is reaching out to many of his colleagues for their assistance in the production department, collaborating with hit-making producers such as The-Dream, Tricky, The Neptunes, Mario Winans, T-Pain and Rodney Jerkins.

Even when Combs isn’t recording music, the founder and CEO of Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group and multi-platinum selling artist remains occupied through a number of creative and business ventures that includes music publishing, artist management, television and film production, fashion, and restaurants. 

In 2007, Diddy released his last studio album Press Play, which included the hit singles “Come to Me” and “Last Night,” featuring Nicole Scherzinger and Keyshia Cole, respectively.