Looks like the NFL is pulling out all the stops for this years Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans as far as the entertainment is concerned. Alicia Keys has now been booked to perform this year’s national anthem according to the Associated Press. Keys is set to kick off the Super Bowl festivities with “The Star Spangled Banner” February 3rd. Alicia officially joins the club of her superstar peers such as Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Beyoncé all of whom have had the most memorable renditions of the famous anthem.

As you know Beyoncé along with Destiny’s Child will serve as this year’s Super Bowl Halftime entertainment. Official confirmation of Alicia Keys Super Bowl performance will be announced within the coming days from now. Still praised as the best rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” check out the late great Whitney Houston below:

I would be lying if I said I had high hops for R&B in 2012, but to my surprise I was proven wrong about all the doubts I had for the dying genre. R&B music made its much-needed mark in 2012. With releases from Miguel, Frank Ocean, Keyshia Cole, Brandy, and Alicia Keys all dropped albums that gave new hope to R&B fans all around the world like myself. Rather then jump ship like most R&B artist have done to try to stay relevant with Pop releases and subpar material, which most failed to chart. These artist stuck true to their roots and released quality material. It’s now 2013 and there are some very highly anticipated album dropping this year from both R&B and Hip-Hop acts. So which R&B acts are the ones to watch this year? Well, I'll gladly give you a run down.

Kicking off our list is none other than Tamar Braxton. For those unaware of who Tamar is she is the youngest sister of Toni Braxton if you didn’t put the connection together by their last names. On February 12, Braxton will be releasing her second studio album titled Love and War in over 10 years. Lead by lead single "Love and War," which debuted at number 57 on Billboard Hot 100. I expect this album to a very solid effort from her since she has a very strong roster of songwriters and producers behind her. Plus her husband is Vincent Herbert who manages Lady Gaga.

Chris Brown! Our boy Chris is now working on the follow-up to his album Fortune, which came and went on the charts. His new album is currently still titled Carpe Diem. As of right now its unclear who he is working with and who’s on it, but he has said that fans should expect to hear new music from him this year. Personally I think Brown needs to just take a nice break from the music scene. Dropping generic dance styled songs with auto-tune just isn’t cutting it anymore. Chris needs live life and allow himself to grow into the talented artist I know he can be. His album F.A.M.E. was a solid body of work and the right direction so I hope he continues to show growth from that album to this new one.

Yes, there is a God because Maxwell has confirmed his anticipated follow up to his last album Blacksummers’ night. Maxwell’s new album is titled SUMMERS’ and is set for a winter debut. Saying I'm excited about this album would be an understatement. Maxwell is a tremendously talented artist and one of the reasons why neo soul became so popular. Maxwell recently collaborated for the first time in his career with Alicia Keys on “Fire We Make” off her album Girl On Fire. With his runs, riffs, tone, and passionate singing (melts) I’m looking forward to this album.

This spring the legendary icon and vocal gymnast that is Mariah Carey will be releasing her 14th studio album. Yes, her 14th album, which is far more then most artist have today (unless your Rihanna who drops one every season of the year) and have album been certified diamond, platinum, and one gold. Last summer Mariah dropped her buzz single “Triumphant (Get‘ Em),” which featured Meek Mill and Rick Ross. In a recent interview with YouKnowIGotSoul, Bryan Michael Cox shared that along with Jermaine Dupri they have a total of 10 songs recorded with Mariah. I assume Mariah will release her 1st single once American Idol kicks off January 16th at 8pm on FOX. Get that free promo girl!

Let me just say you don’t book the Super Bowl halftime show and sign a 50 million dollar deal with Pepsi to contribute to your album budget and not have something under your sleeve. I’m convinced Beyonce has a massive 1st single on her hands because she is pulling out all the stops for her return. King Bey has enlisted Hit-Boy, Kanye West, Miguel, The-Dream, Pharrell, Ne-Yo and Ryan Tedder to contribute to her upcoming 5th studio album. Beyonce’s untitled documentary with HBO will reportedly feature footage of her recording the album, which will air February 16th. I’ll just say this now I believe Beyonce will just completely own the music scene this year. This women is about to breath life back into the game I tell you! Expect to see Beyonce’s album drop around the spring with a single set to debut before Super Bowl.

So I was doing some updates and I saw Srirchana’s Top Five Hip-Hop Holiday Songs, and thought to myself the world needs a rundown on some of R&B’s greatest holiday songs. So here is just a small list of some of R&B’s take on the holiday season.

Mariah Carey "All I Want For Christmas Is You (Extra Festive Version)

So are you guys really suspired I started off with Mariah? Lord knows I love Mariah Carey and this week the diva’s "All I Want For Christmas Is You" is currently #25 this week on Billboard Hot 100! 18 years later and Mariah is still breaking records!

Destiny's Child "8 Days Of Christmas"

I love Destiny’s Child and this song still knocks! Funny thing about this song is the lyrics, which is so ratchet if you pay attention to what they’re asking for.

Boyz II Men "Let It Snow"

Gosh do you not melt when you hear this? Boyz II Men had hits for days!

Donny Hathaway "This Christmas"

I’m sorry but if your parents never played you this during childhood then you haven’t lived. This is such a classic and Donny Hathaway was just so talented!

Jackson 5 "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"

I loved this song growing up! That and my mother forced it on be since she was a huge Michael Jackson fan. Well I hope you guys enjoyed these. I wanted to share more but had to keep the number limited. Hope everyone has a great holiday and be safe!

It’s the holiday time and Mariah Carey is the reason for the season! Mariah aka Slayriah as I like to call her made headlines this week. Mariah Carey’s mega holiday anthem "All I Want For Christmas Is You" has made its return to Billboard Hot 100. Although Bruno Mars "Locked Out Of Heaven" is the #1 song in the country right now on the Hot 100, it is Carey who’s "All I Want For Christmas Is You" that deserves a big round of applause.

This week Mariah Carey re-enters the Billboard Hot 100 at the #29 spot. So why is this so amazing for you younger folks? Well because this song originally came out about 18 years ago. Thanks to Billboards new guidelines, which states that any song that has accumulated enough radio airplay, digital downloads sales, and online streams top crack the top 50 of the Hot 100 is permitted to chart again. The only other person to benefit from this new rule was Whitney Houston’s "I Will Always Love You" that re-entered at the #3 spot on the Hot 100, following her unfortunate death in February.

So seat back and relax and enjoy this Christmas classic from the remarkable talented Mariah Carey

The legendary iconic Mariah Carey blessed us this holiday season with a special performance on NBC’s Christmas In Rockefeller Center filmed in New York City. A night filled full of festive performances accompanied with vocals only a true vocalist could deliver. Mariah preformed Christmas classics like her originally penned All I Want For Christmas Is You and Christmas Time Is In The Air Again.

Mariah Carey’s All Want For Christmas Is You off her holiday album Merry Christmas, which is currently outselling Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded The Re-Up also made its annual debut back into Billboard’s Holiday Chart at the number 6 spot.

All I Want For Christmas Is You

Christmas Time Is In The Air Again

Yes Adele finally did the unmentionable! After shutting down every artist on Billboard 200 in 2011 and a large portion throughout 2012, the talented diva’s 21 has reached the 10 million mark in sales in the US. This feat has earned her a place in the best selling artist of the last 20 years. This week the album sold 28k copies, totaling up 21’s sales well over 10.02 millions since its release February 22, 2011.

Ironically 21 became the 21st album to sale 10 million since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking album sales in 1991. Adele’s 21 is the lasted album to sell over 10 million copies in a shorter time span. The last album to sell over 10 million copies in a short time span was ‘N Sync’s No Strings Attached, which sold over 10 million in its 43rd week. The last album to sell over 10 million copies was Usher’s Confessions. Only it took that album much longer to sell over 10 millions copies. Adele joins the club of divas like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, who are no strangers to selling multiple albums from their discography to reach Diamond Status.

Do you know how amazing this achievement is? It’s rare in the current climate that the record industry is in for an album to sell 10 million copies. Album sells have experienced a decline over the last seven years. Which is why Adele going diamond is a huge accomplishment. Tip to our struggling R&B acts (who I won’t name) the Adult Contemporary audience buys albums! Rather then trying to achieve a quick Hot 100 hit with a pop single, reach for the stars and drop something that’s a classic rather then the flavor of the month.