Marques Houston Returns With New Album!

Marques Houston doesn't sell consistently like some of his male R&B counterparts but it doesn't stop him from releasing album after album.
Find out more about Marques' latest album as well as stories on Fantasia's overdose and Foxy Brown's visit to court!

When it comes to the term ‘longevity,’ no one defines that better than Marques Houston. The 29 year old singer who now has 20 years in the entertainment industry under his belt, is ready to release his fifth solo album, ‘Mattress Music.” This new album will define Marques as a force in this industry that is here to stay!

Recently sending out a sampler of the release, you can clearly hear this album is all about serenading, with tracks like ‘Swag Sex,’ ‘Pullin On Her Hair,’ Noize’ and ‘(Made a) Mess.’

Right now, as one of the few Pop/R&B artists able to boast decade-spanning longevity, he’s turning over Mattress Music with just a 3-man producing/writing crew for the entire album; Houston, Eric Cire and Chris Stokes.

Marques says “I wanted to really just get back to where I was comfortable. And that’s making sexy music. And when it comes to Mattress Music all I can say is, mission accomplished!”

First Look: Official Tracklisting!
Mattress Music
Pullin On Her Hair feat. Rick Ross
Kickin & Screamin
Mess
Noize
Swag Sex feat. Soulja Boy
He Ain’t Me
High Notes
Ghetto Angel
Explosion
Waterfall

Album In Stores & Online September 14th!

http://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/2010/08/11/first-look-marques-houstons-mattress-music-cover-tracklisting/

Fantasia's Overdose Linked To Suicide!

Season-three "American Idol" winner Fantasia Barrino has been hospitalized in North Carolina for a drug overdose after an apparent suicide attempt, WBTV reports.

The CBS affiliate cites a police report filed with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg precinct, in which officers were notified late Monday evening by Barrino's manager, Brian Dickens, that something was wrong with the former "Color Purple" star.

According to the police sources, the officers who arrived on the scene reportedly found Barrino in the closet of a home in the Glynmoor Lakes neighborhood. The fomer "Idol" champ was immediately taken to Mercy South Hospital at Carolinas Medical Center in Pineville, North Carolina.

The police report classified Burrino's condition as a "suicide/overdose" and described Barrino as having suffered "possible internal injuries" after she ingested too much medication. The incident is said to be part of an ongoing investigation. A rep for Barrino did not respond to requests for comment at press time.

Barrino was her usual sweet and spunky self when she talked to MTV News last month about the release of her video for "Bittersweet." She spoke proudly of having taken control of creative and directorial decisions during the shoot and enjoying her handsome co-star, Washington Redskins wide receiver Devin Thomas.

"I enjoyed myself, let's just put it like that," Burrino said. "I had a great time. ... He was really nice, which made it a lot easier."

The 25-year-old's post-"Idol" career has had its highs and lows. Burrino's album sales have not met those of other "Idol" alumni, and in 2009, she battled rumors that her home was in foreclosure and Simon Cowell had to bail her out. However, her reality show, "Fantasia for Real," which premiered earlier this year, was a hit for VH1, and a second season is scheduled to start September 19.

Foxy Brown Testifies In Court!
Rambunctious rapper Foxy Brown arrived this morning in Brooklyn Supreme Court court to testify in secret before a grand jury about her latest brush with the law, sources told The Post.

She may call herself "Don Diva," but the singer intends to ditch her in-your-face attitude and tell jurors that she's really just a mama’s girl who's been trying to exorcise the nasty demons of her bad-girl past and now lives in her Prospect Heights brownstone with her mother, a source said.

The sassy singer, whose real name is Inga Marchand, will flatly deny that a stare-down with neighbor Arlene Raymond escalated into a profane tirade and ended with her provocatively mooning the woman, the sources said. She faces felony charges from the July 21 incident.

The latest legal case against the platinum-selling singer has already taken its toll on her creative energies, a source close to Foxy said.

"Foxy can’t even sleep at night. This is truly a nightmare," said the source.
In a 2007 clash with Raymond, Foxy threw her Blackberry at the neighbor. The grand jury is hearing testimony today on charges that the July incident violated a restraining order against Foxy stemming from that 2007 clash which bars her from having any contact with Raymond.

The feisty singer is expected to release a new album, "Black Roses," this fall – a long-delayed recording that has been six years in the making. Brown’s most recent album was the May 2008 "Brooklyn’s Don Diva," an independent release that briefly hit No. 2 on Billboard’s rap albums chart.