Erykah Badu

We're happy to present this story from our friends at Allure:

During the summer (and in this heat wave especially), it's easy to fall into a lazy-ponytail rut. But trying something new with your hair is much more fun—just take it from Erykah Badu. The woman has endless hair creativity! Don't believe us? Check it out: Within the span of nine days, she's worn her hair wrapped into a twisty knot on the top of her head (at the Nice Jazz Festival in France); in an oversize, over-the-shoulder braid (at the Festival Jazz a Vienne in France); and in a billowy side ponytail (at the Tollwood Festival in Germany). See how to wear Erykah's best looks when you continue reading.

• Check out these photos of Lauren Conrad, Whitney Port, and Lo in Glamour! — PopSugar
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• RIP John Forsythe — People
• Liam Neeson's best movies — Rotten Tomatoes
• After a 16-year run, S. Epatha Merkerson is leaving Law & Order — Zap2it
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• Noah Baumbach and Ben Stiller eye Mr. Popper's Penguins — Moviefone
• Toni Collette to star in film Foster — Deadline
• Your guide to April premieres — TV.com

Whether you're in the mood for soul, sexed-up R&B, or just some mellow folk, these new releases are sure to give your iPod a pick-me-up. (And don't forget to check out the Music Review Group. If you submit a writeup, I may even feature your thoughts on the site!)

Smooth soul: Erykah Badu addresses matters of heart on New Amerykah Part 2: Return of the Ankh, a follow-up to her 2008 part one work. Badu teeters between inner vulnerability (as on her literally revealing video for "Window Seat") and wanting to take a clinical approach to romance as on the robotic beginning of "Love." Badu sounds at ease here — almost as if she's singing freestyle — but don't be fooled, because the album is rife with complexity. Required listening: the funk-infused "Turn Me Away (Get Munny)," a play on Junior M.A.F.I.A's "Get Money."

Sexy back: Usher may be a father and recent divorcee, but on Raymond Vs. Raymond he's out to prove that he still has the same Casanova swagger that we saw on Confessions. On "Lil Freak" he references menage a trois, and don't be tricked by the title "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" — it's not about his son, but about getting between the sheets. He does touch on his personal life on "Papers," which hints at troubled times with now ex-wife Tameka. As for my favorite, it's "She Don't Know" with Ludacris which mixes some Cuban flavor to make it a club hit.

One more release to check out when you read more

• Sorry, Jack Bauer fans: 24 has been canceled — Daemon's TV
• Jamie Foxx is bringing a sketch comedy show to Fox — Inside TV
• Cast your vote for the 2010 MTV Movie Award nominees! — MTV Movies Blog
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• Madonna reportedly casts daughter Lourdes in her film W.E. — The Playlist
• Saving Grace returns tonight for its final season. Here's your 411 — TV.com
• The Libertines to reunite this summer — Vulture
• Erykah Badu causes a stir with her new (naked) music video. NSFW, duh — Music Mix
• Sofia Vergara joins the Smurfs — Zap2it
• Check out Amanda Seyfried's five favorite films — Rotten Tomatoes

Photo courtesy of Fox

• The Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, Supernatural, America's Next Top Model, and 90210 have all been picked up for another season — The Ausiello Report
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• Vampire flick Vlad is getting its script reworked by the writer of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre — MTV Movies Blog
• The Defendor trailer starring Woody Harrelson, Kat Dennings, and Sandra Oh is out — PopWatch
• Amy Smart has landed a role as a nurse in a pilot for a CBS medical drama — HitFix
• James Cameron has met with Marc Webb to discuss the next Spider-man — Inside Movies
• Watch the new music video for "Jump Up in the Air" from Lil Wayne and Erykah Badu — Vulture
• Tori Spelling is writing a children's book — LilSugar

Photos courtesy of The CW