♫ NEWS: MARIAH’S ALBUM COVER / TERRENCE HOWARD ALBUM? / GNARLS BARKLEY MOVES UP RELEASE

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Mariah Carey’s E=MC2 album cover was leaked this week (courtesy of mariahcarey.com) and you can peep it above. The album will be released on April 15 on Island Def Jam Records.

In related news, Mariah is covering the newest issue of Allure magazine revealed that she is a “prude” and that she knows people think she’s a ditz.

“It’s a dichotomy, I understand,” the 37-year-old Grammy winner tells Allure magazine. “I understand that people think I am a ditzy moron.” [ READ MORE ]

Actor Terrence Howard is gearing up to release an album this fall! Howard, who was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for his role as a pimp-turned-rapper in 2005 movie Hustle & Flow, has signed with Columbia Records. This should be quite interesting.

A representative from the label has said that Terrence’s debut album will be titled Terrence Howard Presents Me & the Band of Kings. I have to admit, my interest is very peaked by this.

As you may recall, the track from Hustle & Flow won an Academy Award, but because of Howard’s delivery and Three 6 Mafia’s writing. So, I guess my next question would be: Is Terrence going to be writing the records on this album?

So far, there is no release date, but we do know that the album is set to drop in this year’s third music quarter. We’ve been hearing about this album for a long time, but now we’ve finally got confirmation that Terrence has a deal, and is currently cutting tracks for the new project.

The dynamic duo Gnarls Barkley has moved their set up a few dates. Although they say that they were just ready to get the project out, I think it had more to do with the fact that the album leaked a month before it’s release.

“They felt the timing was right to just go for it,” said an unnamed spokesman for the band. “With the shifting seasons, furtive romantic entanglements and fierce college basketball rivalries, the latter half of March can be confusing. People need to be soothed and inspired now.”

Worded strangely, but I’ll buy it.

Originally slated for April 8th release, and leaking sometime early last week, Gnarls Barkley, consisting of Cee-Lo Green and DJ Danger Mouse has decided to release digitally, today, March 18th and will appear in stores the following week on the 25th. I think this was a good move for their new album, The Odd Couple, which is a really great sound for them. Although I think I’m still a little more partial to St. Elsewhere, Odd Couple is a wonderful second effort for them.