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Singer Chris Brown continues to rack up No 1s on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart as “Royalty”, his seventh studio album, takes the top spot having sold 162,000 copies  in the week ending Dec. 24, according to Nielsen Music. The disc starts atop the chart dated Jan. 9. This is Brown’s sixth No 1 on the ranking and fifth straight as  a solo artist; only his 2007 release “Exclusive” failed to reach the charts peak, landing at No 2. His only other album to top the R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart was this year’s collaboration with Tyga “Fan Of A Fan: The Album”. “Royalty”, named after Brown’s daughter, also tallies Brown’s best sales since 2011’s “F.A.M.E.”, which moved 270,000 in its debut week. “Royalty” is No. 3,  having sold 184,000 units, his sixth album to reach the top five. Brown isn’t the only one with a major debut on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums. Landing at No 3 is “King Push”, the sophomore album from rapper Pusha T. The album, which sold 39,000 copies, is the follow up to 2013’s “My Name Is, My Name Is”, a No 2-peaking charter with 75,000 first week copies sold. Singer Monica enters the chart at No. 4 with “Code Red”, which has sold 34,000 copies thus far. It’s the R&B veteran’s sixth album to hit the top five and the follow up to 2012’s “New Life”, which peaked at No. 2. She notched two No. 1s with 2006’s “The Makings Of Me” and 2010’s “Still Standing”.

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Singer Chris Brown and Vibe magazine have reunited, putting their past differences behind them. In the profile, the singer, who just released his seventh studio album, “Royalty”, named after his one-year-old daughter, talks about his mission to inspire, his views on society in light of young black men being targeted by police and how he discovered he was a father. He also touches on how his childhood rebellion seeped into his relationship with his mother and his parenting strategy for Royalty. Vibe magazine is on newsstands now. Singer R. Kelly has scored his 12th No. 1 Top R&B/Hip Hop Album with his latest release “The Buffet”, holding on to his  position as the solo act with the second-most chart toppers. The new album opens with 36,000 copies sold the week of Dec. 17, according to Nielsen Music, inching him closer to rapper Jay Z’s record of 13 No. 1s. Among all recording artists, The Temptations have the most No 1s at the top of the Top R&B/Hip Hop Album Charts. Bawse isn’t the only title rapper Rick Ross has given himself. In a new WorldStarHipHop vlog, the Maybach Music mogul flaunts his belly and his two pack while dishing out a monologue that can only be described as feeling myself. Last year, the then 300 pound MC released his fitness regimen, which consisted of a CrossFit program (a.k.a RossFit), that included push ups, sit ups, boxing, squat jumps and Olympic style weight lifting. The Miami native also switched up his diet, trading soda and Belaire Rose for H2o.

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Hip hop mogul Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs is quickly approaching the finish line as a recording artist. But first, he wants to go out in a blaze of glory by rereleasing his well received mixtape “MMM (Money Making Mitch)”, on iTunes today. The mixtape serves as a prequel to his final album  “No Way Out 2”, which will be released next year. Combs stated that he’s following in the footsteps of Frank Sinatra. “MMM” was  initially released free on Nov. 4, the Grammy award winning rapper’s 46th birthday. The mixtape earned positive reviews and featured guest appearances by Future, Lil Kim, Jadakiss, French Montana and others. Combs said that he felt compelled to rerelease “MMM” due to the overwhelming demand by fans and colleagues to sell it. The rerelease will include a new interlude and two additional tracks. Combs says he’ll spend time with his six children while planning his next career move. In the meantime, he’ll hit the stage for Fox’s “Pitbull’s New Year’s Revolution”, set to air on Dec. 31. The show will include performances by Timabland, “Empire” star Jussie Smollett, Earth, Wind & Fire and Austin Mahone. One look at the trailer for the Lifetime film “Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart” and viewers will have to have someone to unbreak their hearts. The clip provides a haunting look at what’s to come in 20 seconds. “Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart” tells the story of singer Toni Braxton’s rise to fame and the obstacles she faced,  including health issues. The trailer features Lex Scott Davis as Braxton in a montage of clips from glamor-filled photo shoots and emotionally powerful singing to dark hospital scenes. The film is the unauthorized telling of Braxton’s life, with the singer even making a cameo appearance. Sometimes a trending tweet is more than a trending tweet, as is the case of #StarWarsRaps, which talk show host Jimmy Fallon shared a few days ago, it was the fodder for the bit on “The Tonight Show”, where the best tweets were brought to life by house band The Roots. From “The Next Episode” to Biggie Smalls and the Beastie Boys, the late night crew made a healthy selection of some of hip hop’s biggest hits intergalactic. In addition, Black Thought and Questlove made Chewbacca noises, a fairly irresistible prospect.

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Earlier this month, the internet revealed that loathed pharmaceutical CEO Martin Shkreli purchased Wu Tang Clan’s album “Once Upon A Time In Shaolin” for millions via online auction house Paddle8. Shkreli, the Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO known for attempting to raise the price of an AIDS pills from $13.50 to $750, isn’t stopping there. During an interview with HipHopDX, Shkreli talked about being a hip hop fan, siding with Action Bronson (because Albania) and his riff with Wu Tang member RZA. He also revealed that his To Do list includes bailing out rapper Bobby Shmurda, the Brooklyn rapper currently in jail on a $2 million bail on weapons and guns charges. The Shkreli Q&A is filled with quotables as he discusses his views on  hip hop as an art form, working with ghost writers to possibly put out his own material and stressing that his actions aren’t a result of the thirst for more cash. Shkreli then had  a few choice words for RZA, who got in on  a Twitter joke that he and any surviving Clan members or actor Bill Murray will be able to get the album back over the 88-year period it’s been on lock down. The countdown to the release of singer Chris Brown’s latest album “Royalty” began last night with an invite only listening party at Hyde Sunset in Los Angeles. Among the guest spotted in the venue were Usher, French Montana and Real 92.3 Los Angeles morning radio personality Big Boy. Wearing a San Francisco 49ers jacket, jeans and a maroon cap, Brown let “Royalty”, named after his 1-year-old daughter, speak for itself. Stationed inside the banquette room of the front room, Brown showcased some signature dance  moves and mouthed song lyrics while various tracks were played. “Royalty” features the previously released singles “Back To Sleep”, “Liquor” and “Zero”. Among the tracks that garnered the strongest reaction from the crowd were “Wrist” featuring Solo Lucci, “Picture Me Rollin”, “No Filter” and “Who’s Gonna (Nobody)”. Next on the agenda is tonight’s concert at the Masonic in San Francisco. It’s the second of three “Royalty” live concerts announced earlier this month. The final stop will be at the Hollywood Palladium on the day of the album’s release. It’s the follow up to Brown’s sixth studio album, 2014’s “X”. The viral pie guy isn’t the only one singing Patti LaBelle’s praises after devouring her sweet potato pies. The Walmart exclusive delicacy has received another supporter in “Empire” star Jussie Smollett. Before presenting the award for Breakthrough Artist to Tori Kelly, the actor took time to describe how in love he is with Ms. Patti’s pies by saying that he was blown away because he knows sweet potato pie. LaBelle even delivered pies to the “Empire” cast.

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After much promotion on Twitter over the weekend, singer Willow Smith released her debut album “Ardipithecus” on Rock Nation. The project follows a sting of singles and EPs, including the 15-year-old’s 2011 hit “Whip My Hair”. Most of the album was written and produced by Willow alone, although her older brother Trey Smith along with JABS appear in the credits. The album can be downloaded on iTunes. With the help of the breakup anthem “I Don’t F*** With You” featuring E-40, rapper Big Sean has reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard charts with his third studio album “Dark Sky Paradise”. Collaborating with Kanye West, DJ Mustard, Drake and John Legend, the Detroit native deepened his imprint on 2015 with “Blessings” and “One Man Can Change The World”, featuring West and Legend. The single was nominated for a Best/Rap Sung collaboration Grammy. No doubt, there’s more to come. Rapper Nicki Minaj’s 2014 Sir Mix A Lot flip “Anaconda” has become her highest charting single to date, now, the original version, which includes some unheard bars, has hit the internet thanks to an upcoming compilation from one of the song’s producers, AnonXmous. The track was leaked yesterday to promote his mixtape “Hallucinagens”, which gives an interesting glimpse into the life of a pop song. Some verses are the same, others are new, and yet others are from the rapper’s verse on Ciara’s 2013 single “I’m Out”, suggesting that the song must have been in the works since then.

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Grammy award nominations have been revealed and it appears that always an angry Twitter they make. In the rap category, K Dot, whose second studio effort, “To Pimp A Butterfly”, earned critical acclaim for its excellence and earned a nomination. Kendrick Lamar has earned 11 nominations as well. J. Cole’s release “2014 Forest Hills”  received a Best Rap Album nod along with Nicki Minaj for “Pinkprint” and Drake received  a nomination for his mixtape “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” as well. Rapper/producer Dr Dre’s west coast ode “Compton”, his first studio album in sixteen years, also received a nomination. Noticeably absence, however, was one of the genre’s hottest artist of 2015, Future. Although the Grammy board doesn’t hand out awards for launching a fan Hive, the rapper blasted from speakers coast to coast with his album “DS2”, his first album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200. He also completed a joint project with Drake “What A Time To Be Alive”. There’s also Fetty Wrap, who has a smash with “Trap Queen” and followed with “Again”, “My Way” and “679”. He received a nomination for Best Rap Performance. A look at the R&B category makes it difficult for one to understand the boards train to thought. Former B2K member and “Love & Hip Hop Hollywood” star Omarion was none too please about receiving no nominations for “Post To Be” while lesser none artist like Kehlani, Lianne La Havas and the Internet all earned Best Urban Contemporary Album nods. D’Angelo  even earned himself a record of the year nomination.  It’s hard to blame the Grammys when their priority isn’t the Internet’s happiness, but consider Twitter wasted energy throwing darts at their nominations. When it comes to Rap and R&B, it’s anyone’s game. At least that’s what their 2016 nominations make it out to be.

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R&B crooners Keith James and Jeremih are officially back on the run for the video for their single “Running Back”. The visual, which premiered exclusively on Billboard, features the two Chicago-based singers in animated form as they take every form of transportation available to make it home for Christmas. James recently released the EP “Funk Christmas”, which features  “Running Back”, “This Christmas Sucks”, “Santa For You” and his version of “Let It Snow”.  Jeremih’s third studio album “Late Nights: The Album” hit time lines early this morning as a surprise.  A creative jam session between he and Keith James resulted in the tracks “Paradise” and “Remember Me”. Both tracks are standouts on the album. Count rapper/actor Will smith as one of British singer Adele’s fans.  Smith told Billboard magazine that he loves her new single. Smith is preparing music for a possible album and a reunion tour with DJ Jazzy Jeff. He adds that he watches how his teenage children absorb music and notes how things have changed. He’s also in the middle of a press blitz for his latest film “Concussion”, which is scheduled for release on Christmas day. Smith says that he’s looking forward to getting out and performing this summer.

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Singer Chris Brown’s December tour of Australia and New Zealand has been canceled. A statement from Brown’s Australian “One Hell Of A Night Tour” promoter, issued yesterday, confirmed that the shows in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, all scheduled from Dec. 9-16, will not take place. In September, the Australian government warned that it planned to deny Brown’s visa due to his criminal conviction for assaulting ex-girlfriend Rhianna in 2009. Brown was also scheduled to perform in Auckland, New Zealand on Dec. 18. Full refunds will be offered. Ebony magazine revealed who made its Power 100 list, their feature which recognizes leaders in the black community within the fields of the arts, politics, education, community activism, media and medicine. Among those honored were D’Angelo and Prince, for their musical prowess, they were also celebrated for their commitment to using music as a tool for political activism. Janelle Monae and Kendrick Lamar were acknowledged for producing the singles “Alright” and “Hell You Talmbout”, which have been used by Black Lives Matter and other anti-police brutality movements. Similarly, singer John Legend and rapper J. Cole were acknowledged for their philanthropic work devoted to similar movements and those in need.