50 Cent and Kanye West set for another album release battle
50 Cent and Kanye West will release new albums a week apart in December. 50 Cent's "Before I Self Destruct" will be out December 9, while Kanye West's "08's And Heartbreak" is due on December 16. In its debut week last year September, West's "Graduation" outsold 50 Cent's "Curtis" album. Kanye West's new single is the track "Love Lockdown."

Gorillaz start work on new album
Blur's Damon Albarn and animator Jamie Hewlett are set to start work on a new Gorillaz album. Although, Albarn stated that there would be no more Gorillaz albums last year, he apprently has had second thoughts and has said that he has already begun work on the album. It will be the band’s third album and a follow-up to 2005's "Demon Days.”

Christina Milian signs with MySpace Records
Christina Millian has signed a new recording deal with MySpace Records. Her new album is due next spring. First single off the album "Us Against The World" is a ballad produced by Madd Scientist and will be available via MySpace on October 6. Producers include T-Pain, Cool And Dre, amongst others. Kanye West is the only guest artist known to appear on the album so far.

Weezer preparing new album
Weezer are preparing to record a new album. The band will head for the studio in November. The band will work with producer Garret ‘Jackknife’ Lee again on the new effort. According to drummer Pat Wilson, the band have already been sending Lee ideas for new songs.

Previously unreleased Ashanti tracks to be released
Ashanti will be releasing 12 previoulsy unreleased tracks on the album "The Vault." The album is set for an October 14 release date and contains songs written by the singer back in 2001. Producers include Miguel "Migs" Baeza and Nocko, among others. First single off the album is "Let's Do Something Crazy" featuring Flo Rida. Second single will be the track "Imagine."

New Ryan Adams album titled Cardinology
Ryan Adams and his band the Cardinals will release a new album titled "Cardinology." The set is due on October 28 and the first single off the new effort will be "Fix It." The track is available now and will be distributed to radio on October 7. Early buyers that order the album on vinyl will receive a special 7-inch single as a bonus, as well as a download code for an MP3 version of "Cardinology." Tom Schick produced the album and is the follow-up to 2007's "Easy Tiger."

Deborah Cox turns back to R&B on new album
After last year's jazz adventure with the Dinah Washington tribute album "Destination Moon," Deborah Cox turns back to R&B with the album "The Promise." The effort will be out November 11 and is her first R&B album in six years. Prior to the album’s release the ballad "Did You Ever Love Me," produced by Flyte Tyme, was released. The album's title track was co-written by John Legend and he set's other collaborators include Devo Springsteen, the Avila Brothers and Shep Crawford. Deborah Cox started her career as backup singer for Celine Dion and scored a worldwide R&B hit in 1995 with "Sentimental."

Motown legend Norman Whitfield dies
Motown producer/songwriter Norman Whitfield, who was responsible for such hits as "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" and "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" has died at the age of 65. Born in New York, Whitfield moved with his family to Detroit in the early 60’s and became a member of Motown's songwriting team. He worked closely with acts like the Temptations, Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight & the Pips. His biggest hit from the 70’s was Rose Royce's "Car Wash," which was a US singles number 1 in 1977.

New Tom Jones album to feature U2's Bono and The Edge
Tom Jones will release a new album mostly original material this fall. The 68-year-old singer will release "24 Hours" on November 25. It is reported to be a retro-tinged album much in the style of Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black." The album features two covers, being Bruce Springsteen's "The Hitter" and "I'm Alive" from Tommy James & The Shondells. The remainder of the album’s songs were written by Jones and others. Bono and the Edge of U2 guest on the song "Sugar Daddy."