Alicia Keys was the belle of the ball at the 8th Annual Keep a Child Alive Black Ball at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on Thursday evening (Nov. 3). The Grammy-winning songstress, who co-founded the non-profit organization, shimmered in a gold top, cream-colored blazer, and gold pointy-toe heels as she posed on the red carpet with her husband Swizz Beatz, who looked sharp in an all-black tux.

“I am overwhelmed by the kindness I witnessed last night at the eighth annual Black Ball NY,” said Keys, who raised over $3 million for children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in India and Africa. “I am forever grateful to all of our supporters whose generosity will provide AIDS treatment and care for so many in desperate need.”

Queen Latifah, Tyra Banks, Gayle King, Kerry Washington, Carmelo Anthony, and La La Vazquez were among the stars who dressed up to honor the spiritual, musical, and philanthropic legacy of the late George Harrison.

Guests were treated to performances by Usher, Norah Jones, will.i.am, Jay Sean, and more. The “Fallin’” singer joined Usher and Richie Sambora on The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” and closed the night by singing “I Gotta Feeling” with will.i.am, as her mother and brother danced onstage.

Jay Sean shows America a lesser seen side on his R&B-infused mixtape The Mistress featuring appearances from Lupe Fiasco (“Say Yeah”), Tyga (“Sex 101”), and Birdman (“Love”). The Cash Money crooner shares stories of lust, infidelity, and love triangles on the 15 sexy, edgy tracks produced Orange Factory Music.

“For me, it’s my new passion project,” the British singer told Rap-Up TV. “It’s a little nod to throwback R&B, the stuff that I grew up to. It’s just fun. It’s not going in there and over-thinking anything. It’s just doing some stuff that I wanted to do, perhaps doing some stuff that America hasn’t heard. It’s showing the other side of me. It’s my other love, my hidden love.”

Jay Sean kicks off his North American co-headlining tour with Joe Jonas tonight in Boston.

Download: Jay Sean – The Mistress

1. “Rouge `a Lèvres”
2. “The Mistress”
3. “Love” feat. Birdman
4. “Sex 101″ feat. Tyga
5. “Message in a Bottle”
6. “Yesterday”
7. “She Has No Time”
8. “Say Yeah” feat. Lupe Fiasco
9. “Can’t Fall in Love”
10. “Movie”
11. “Same Old”
12. “Where I Wanna Be”
13. “Waiting in Vain”
14. “Where Do We Go”
15. “Sealed Lips”

Lupe Fiasco connects with his pal from across the pond, Jay Sean, on “Say Yeah,” a cut off the British singer’s mixtape The Mistress, dropping Tuesday. The Cash Money signee sings in a falsetto over the breezy beat, while Lupe kicks a laid-back verse. Listen to the radio rip below.

Jay Sean f/ Lupe Fiasco – “Say Yeah” [Radio Rip]

[RapRadar via The LupE.N.D. Blog]

Jay Sean is creeping on the side on the title track off his upcoming mixtape The Mistress. The Cash Money crooner can’t fight the feeling despite his guilt. “No I just can’t leave my mistress/ And why do you feel like something that I shouldn’t hide/ I just can’t leave you alone,” he laments.

“For me, it’s my new passion project,” the British singer told Rap-Up TV. “It’s a little nod to throwback R&B, the stuff that I grew up to. It’s just fun. It’s not going in there and over-thinking anything. It’s just doing some stuff that I wanted to do, perhaps doing some stuff that America hasn’t heard. It’s showing the other side of me. It’s my other love, my hidden love.”

Due September 6, the 15-track download features appearances from Lupe Fiasco (“Say Yeah”), Tyga (“Sex 101”), and Birdman (“Love”).

[ThisisRnB]

Things are looking up for JoJo. The pop songbird has been tapped to open for Joe Jonas and Jay Sean on their co-headlining fall tour.

The 19-city intimate club trek kicks off in JoJo’s hometown of Boston on September 6 and will stop in major cities across North America including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, and San Francisco.

“So excited to be representing for the ladies!!! Lets ROCK OUT,” tweeted JoJo.

The singer has selected “Disaster” as the lead single from her oft-delayed third album Jumping Trains. The pop record, which has been compared to her past hits “Too Little Too Late” and “Leave (Get Out),” will be sent to radio in the coming weeks.

Joe Jonas and Jay Sean’s Co-Headlining Tour with Special Guest JoJo

Sept. 6 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
Sept. 7 – Upper Darby, PA – Tower Theatre
Sept. 10 – Toronto, ON – The Sound Academy
Sept. 11 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
Sept. 12 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues
Sept. 15 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
Sept. 17 – Denver, CO – Fillmore
Sept. 19 – San Francisco, CA – Warfield
Sept. 20 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
Sept. 21 – Pomona, CA – Fox Theater
Sept. 24 – Scottsdale, AZ – Venue of Scottsdale
Sept. 26 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
Sept. 28 – Austin, TX – ACL Live
Sept. 29 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
Oct. 1 – Tampa, FL – Venue TBD
Oct. 2 – Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues
Oct. 3 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
Oct. 5 – Silver Spring, MD – Fillmore Silver Spring
Oct. 6 – New York, NY – Best Buy Theater

Jay Sean showed up to support his friend Pharrell at the launch of his Qream liqueur last week. The Cash Money signee was recently in the studio with Skateboard P working on his new album Freeze Time.

“We did three songs together over the last couple of weeks for my new album,” the British singer told Rap-Up TV. “While music is changing so much, he’s keeping up with the trends, but he’s still making sure he doesn’t let go of what makes his music his music. It’s got that unique Pharrell sound.”

He also shared details about his upcoming mixtape The Mistress, due next month. “For me, it’s my new passion project,” he explained. “It’s a little nod to throwback R&B, the stuff that I grew up to. It’s just fun. It’s not going in there and over-thinking anything. It’s just doing some stuff that I wanted to do, perhaps doing some stuff that America hasn’t heard. It’s showing the other side of me. It’s my other love, my hidden love.”

And for those patiently waiting on Freeze Time, Jay assures that it’s coming. “End of the year, definitely.”

Jay Sean panders to the ladies with the video for “Like This, Like That,” the latest single from his upcoming album Freeze Time. The Cash Money crooner cozies up to a young woman as lights beam down on him in the performance scenes. A slightly less wealthy Birdman flies by to make a cameo.

Jay Sean asks “Where Do We Go” on the first release from his mixtape The Mistress featuring acoustic renditions of original songs and his spin on some beloved classics. The Cash Money crooner tries to put back the pieces of a broken relationship on the stripped-down ballad, which is also accompanied by a video of him in the studio, cruising in his Bentley, and walking on the Miami streets. His 4th studio album Freeze Time is due later this year.

Lil Wayne scored major points with his female fans with his new Carter IV single “How to Love.” The Detail-produced slow jam has already gone to iTunes and here’s a look at the single artwork. Turn around, Weezy.

Jay Sean selects the next single from his fourth album Freeze Time. He connects with Cash Money chief Birdman on the previously leaked “Like This Like That,” which ships to digital retailers on June 14.

Frank Ocean gears up for the commercial release of his debut Nostalgia, Ultra with the first single “Novacane,” available May 31 on iTunes. The Odd Future singer-songwriter continues to remain out of the picture, instead letting a lovely lady get his message across.

Whose single artwork do you like best? Let us know.

Jay Sean reps for his label on the posse cut “YMCMB Heroes” featuring Tyga, Busta Rhymes, and Cory Gunz. The track, which serves as an urban remix of the British singer’s “Hit the Lights,” touts an industrial beat where he flexes his rhyming chops in between verses from his guest stars.

“Too many million sales that be up on my plaques/ On the walls of my crib as a matter of fact/ Yes it’s me, come all the way from overseas/ Took that spot from the Black Eyed Peas/ Number one Billboard entry,” he sing-raps. Listen to the anthem below.

[HHNM]