It’s the video premiere for Rihanna‘s “Man Down”!

Princess RiRi brings the heavy in the clip for “Man Down,” the fifth US single from LOUD.

Filmed in Jamaica with her longstanding collaborator Anthony Mandler, the “Man Down” clip takes viewers on a trail from the song’s blood-soaked finale in the train station all the way back to the story’s origins: We watch as Rihanna goes from a fun-loving (Vita Coco drinking!) island dweller by day to a club girl by night, eventually pursued and forced up against a wall against her will by an entirely unwanted suitor. The rest is up for interpretation, but it’s safe to assume the worst from there on…

Aside from the subject matter of the clip, there’s something extra chilling about the “Man Down” video given that it comes from Rihanna–a pop star whose made no secret of both her violent childhood memories at home in Barbados and her own personal domestic abuse incident with Chris Brown in 2009.

Though the cinematography is another (unsurprisingly) gorgeous display thanks to Mandler, “Man Down” is the darkest moment Rihanna’s had since the Rated R era. And while the tale unravels rather slowly, by the end, Rihanna’s done due justice to one of LOUD‘s best moments.

It’s been a rough year for the ‘Babes.

After OG member Keisha Buchanan‘s less-than-amicable departure from the group in September of 2009, the girls suffered a brief identity crisis–going from soulful/classy to chic/sassy for their underrated-yet-not-entirely-special-either seventh studio album in 2010, Sweet 7.

Now, with some actual time under their best as a new line-up, the girls are set to return with their upcoming summer comeback single, “Freedom.”

Check out the video above–a promo clip for the Nokia N8 Pink phone–which features a 1-minute clip of “Freedom.”

Although I’m not sure what to make of the song so far (as it seems to be quite chopped and screwed), the chorus (“For free-ee-ee-dom-dom-dom!”) seems promising so far. It also sounds slightly darker and dubbier than anything the ‘Babes have done in recent time. I like it, like it!

While you’re at it, head over to the Sugababes’ official website to enter the contest for a free Nokia N8 Pink. Why not, right?

Britney stans are fucking insane. Gaga stans are bat-shit crazy. And as for Ciara stans? Well, they’re still working out the scientific term for that brand of delusion in the upcoming DSM-5. (I’d opt for Cedricsanity, personally.)

But there’s always one segment of stan that seems to elude me: The Katy Perry stan. A breed of people who, for whatever environmental circumstances or childhood experiences, go hard for a woman known for her tepid stage presence, masterful eye-rolling and, most importantly: Her breasts. (And the various items that invariably shoot out of them, of course.)

Today the candy-coated door has been opened, courtesy of Towleroad.

Watch as Kitty Purry super-fan Jack Moore takes a film crew on a tour of his room, displaying walls full of magazine clippings and actual buckets of photographs. “I like Katy Perry more than my family,” he giggles while eerie piano music plays in the background.

And there you have it: Your first uncomfortable moment of the week. You’re welcome!

Queen Toy is taking it back!

After uploading a promo video to YouTube hours ago, La Toya Jackson has just announced her grand return to the music scene with the Starting Over EP, due out on June 21.

The EP–which will be released in conjunction with Jackson’s upcoming autobiography of the same name–follows nearly a decade of false starts, re-recordings and release date setbacks for the album, originally slated for release way back in 2002.

The release will be the first for La Toya since her 2009 single “Home,” a charity ballad released in commemoration of her brother, Michael.

WELCOME BACK, TOY!

PUT YOUR HANDS UP!

Kylie Minogue is about to release a set of remix EPs for her massive Starsmith-produced Aphrodite track, “Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love).”

The two EPs–which will be released on June 5 in the UK–feature several different remixes, including offerings from Pete Hammond (listen now!), Bimbo Jones and Nervo, as well as a live cut from the Aphrodite Les Folies Tour. You can currently hear samples from both EPs at Amazon.co.uk here and here.

The first EP also features a brand new B-side from the Aphrodite era: “Silence,” which you can now hear below. (Thanks for the link, WeArePopSlags!)

“It feels so right, you can’t deny / The best is what you haven’t heard,” Mizz Minogue croons above moody strings and a steady electronic pulse. Slightly more moody than the bulk of Aphrodite, “Silence” is a more sophisticated comedown from the hyper-happiness of its accompanying track–think of it as the “I Know” or “Made of Glass” from Ultimate Kylie! Love it!

The remix EP will also be released in the US beginning tomorrow, May 31.

Support! Download! Let’s natch that next US Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play #1 for KM!

The “Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)” remix bundle will be released on May 31 in the US and June 5 in the UK. (iTunes) (iTunes UK)

Make sure to check out the June 2011 issue of Attitude Magazine for an introduction/interview piece with the sexy blokes of up-and-coming Aussie electro-pop duo, Garçon Garçon–written by yours truly!

Yay!!!

How convaynyunt.

While rumors continue to swirl that Cheryl Cole has been kicked to the curb as a judge for the upcoming US premiere of X Factor, Nadine Coyle has quietly taken to Twitter yesterday to post a press release about her debut US single: “Runnin’.”

Singer-Songwriter Nadine Coyle is proud to introduce a Sneak Preview of the Summer Smash Runnin’ to U.S. audiences and clubs.

Nadine is currently in the studio with hot DJ/Producer Duo Vito Fun & Damian Major collaborating on new club remixes.

In case you’re neither (A) a patron of Nadine’s Irish Mist or (B) one of the three people to import a copy of Nuhdz’s supermarket-exclusive solo Insatiable to the States, “Runnin’” is actually one of the best cuts from the record. Will it impact US radio? Doubtful, but it’s certainly a jam and a half. Here, have a listen for yourself:

And of course, let’s not forget the best part of the whole press release:

Nadine Coyle is most famously known for being the lead singer of the Guinness World Records acclaimed pop group, Girls Aloud.

OH, OKAY THEN.

SO MUCH FUCKERY ABOUND.

Yesterday, TMZ broke the news that Cheryl Cole has reportedly been ousted from her seat as a judge on the upcoming series debut of US X Factor. Her spot will soon be filled by the show’s current co-host, Nicole Schizzlesnapper. Um…EXCUU ME?

Now, as gossip sites bicker about whether it was Chezza’s delightfully unintelligible Geordie accent that sent her packing or a lukewarm chemistry with fellow judge Paula Abdul (which is an especially hard one to swallow, given that Dannii Minogue and Chezza were never exactly a dynamic duo on the UK series), only one thing remains certain:

There is literally no reason to watch US X Factor now. Or perhaps even live.