NEW MUSIC: J-Hud, Robin Thicke & T.I.

THIS "PHAT TUESDAY" IS A BIG ONE FOR R&B AND RAP MUSIC WITH THREE OF THE HOTTEST ALBUMS THIS YEAR RELEASED ON THE SAME DAY!!!



(you can get most of them for under $10 this week at Target, Circuit City or at www.amazon.com) ... CD Reviews to come!) -- CHECK EM OUT:



American Idol reject turned Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson finally releases her much-anticpated self-titled debut album.

Her single "Spotlight" is in heavy rotation across the country, and from what I hear the rest of the album is just as hot.

Not only is J-Hud celebrating her first music release this fall but she's also hitting the big screen again with Queen Latifah and songstress Alicia Keys in "The Secret Life of Bees" (out Oct. 17th).

Oh and did you hear she's engaged? To "I Love New York 2" reject "Punk". Looks like she'll also be planning a wedding! Go cop the album!



Soulful vanilla singer Robin Thicke returns to the scene with Something Else, which is technically his THIRD album, though most never heard his debut.

The first single from this release "Magic" has even showed up on BET and is playing heavy on urban radio thanks to the additon of MJB to the song.

I heard snippets of the entire album on Amazon.com (click HERE to take a listen) and I swear the boy is channeling Prince, Maxwell and Marvin Gaye all in one session.

The songs have a vibe rooted in 60s soul and 70s disco/R&B. I plan to buy it ... I suggest you do too!






The King of Atlanta, The RubberBand Man, T.I.P. -- whatever you call him, T.I. is back.

His fifth release, Paper Trail, is ready for consumption.

The radio, club and probably your car stereo has been bumping one of the album's hit singles, "Whatever You Like," like crazy.

When Rickey Smiley visited the SBC a couple of weeks ago, he devoted at least ten minutes to playing and reciting the song. That's what you call a HIT. That single with Rihanna (Live Your Life) which he performed on the MTV VMA's is sick too! Other big name features on the album include his Atlanta colleagues Ludacris & Usher, Swizz Beats, Kanye West and Jay-Z.

Sources say the name of the album comes from T.I. reverting back to the basics by writing down his lyrics (which he apparently hasn't done since he first came on the scene in 2001). Some critics say this is his best work ever. You be the judge ... then let ME know!

- mahogani