The high priestess of the Neo-Classic Soul Movement, Erykah Badu, returns with her third studio album, "Worldwide Underground". The album, to be released on September 16th, contains new songs that Badu has been performing at her live shows over the past year. Among the tracks are collaborations with Lenny Kravitz ("Back in the Day"), Queen Latifah, Angie Stone and Bahamadia ("Funk You”).

Friends are claiming that the good news of Whitney Houston being pregnant, together with a spiritual trip to Israel with husband Bobby Brown, has helped Houston clean up her act. One pal says, "Whitney insists she has put all her drinking and drug problems behind her. She's going to have to take really good care of herself to make sure she has a successful pregnancy. She seems dedicated." Pals say Houston is expecting a birth in March.

Fox Searchlight Pictures has picked up the rights to the new DMX-produced urban thriller titledNever Die Alone. The film is based on a 1974 book of the same name. DMX plays a gangster whose murder is witnessed by a journalist played by David Arquette. The movie is being directed by the Ernest Dickerson who has worked on Do The Right Thing, Mo' Better Blues, Jungle Fever, Malcolm X and Juice. DMX also returns with his fifth album “Grand Champ” on September 9th. Besides working on his album the X man is also developing a new Saturday morning cartoon entitled Boomer.

Russell Simmons and Rush Communications, Westin Rinehart and New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service recently unveiled The Hip-Hop Artists and Athletes Community Development initiative, a national community development program. The program was created to be a matchmaking vehicle between Hip-Hop artists and athletes who want to help the communities they come from, but are not sure which organizations have the greatest need. "There is a huge void in community development across the nation," said Morris L. Reid, managing director, Westin Rinehart. "The Hip Hop Artists and Athletes Community Development program will help bridge the gap by providing artists and athletes with the means to give back to their communities."

ATL’s homegrown funky hip hop specialists, Outkast, bless us with a double CD on Arista entitled “Speakerboxx/The Love Story”. This album is a split personality, allowing Andre 3000 and Big Boi to create and explore their individual music styles--together. Keep your ears open, this one should be very interesting.

This fall UPN Channel 9 will be adding two eagerly anticipated shows to their lineup. First, on Mondays at 8:30 pm, starting September 15th, rap star Eve debuts her self-titled sitcom. She stars as a fashion designer “trying to navigate the exhilarating world of 21st century love, sex, romance and career”. Watch the wardrobe closely. Eve, who is simultaneously launching Fetish, her new clothing line, will be shamelessly plugging her own label’s designs in this sitcom.

Then on Tuesday, September 16th at 8:30 pm, we will see the premier of “All Of Us” the sitcom executive produced by Will & Jada Smith. The story, which is loosely based on their lives, is built around the relationship between a recently divorced man, his ex-wife, and his fiancé and how they learn to accept and navigate their roles for their son’s best interest. Watch and learn folks, no baby-mama drama here. It stars Duane Martin (Deliver Us From Eva), Elise Neal (The Hughleys) and LisaRaye (Player’s Club). Based on the promos I’ve seen it looks pretty good.

The 2nd Annual Ear To Da Streets Music Producer Conference will be taking place on September 17-19th in New York City. Ear To Da Streets was created for the producers, those who create the trends, and define the direction of popular music today. A few of the highly anticipated portions of the event include: The Producer's Soundstage Series, The Def Jam Demo Suite, 2nd Annual Beat Battle, and Remix Showcase. For more information and schedule of events visit www.eartodastreets.com/2ndannualconf.htm.