Some of the more interesting news and rumors from the past week:

• A Los Angeles judge last week praised Chris Brown for complying with his sentence in connection with his physical attack on Rihanna.
• Janet Jackson says she recognized her brother Michael's drug problem, and tried to help him, but that he rebuffed her attempts.
• Toni Braxton has confirmed that she's separated from her husband Keri Lewis, formerly of the band Mint Condition.
• Jennifer Hudson has been chosen to star in "Winnie," a movie about the ex-wife of Nelson Mandela.
• Jordin Sparks is recovering from an emergency appendectomy.
• Don't forget to watch the American Music Awards Sunday night.

Alright, the official word came down earlier this week: R. Kelly's tenth studio album, Untitled, drops Dec. 1, 2009. And in order to give Untitled a fresh sound, Kellz worked with a crew of up-and-coming producers, plus recorded some songs in Atlanta instead of doing everything in his hometown of Chicago, like he's always done in the past. You might be familiar with the album's first official single, "Number One," since it's already a top 10 hit and has been all over VH1 Soul for weeks. But in case you haven't heard this braggadocious sexual duet, which features Keri Hilson, you can stream it by clicking the link below.

• "Number One" feat. Keri Hilson audio (MP3)

Seal is about to release a greatest hits album on Dec. 8 called - wait for it - Hits. Hits will span his 20-year career as a singer-songwriter and will have 16 of his biggest hit songs, plus two brand new ones. The 'new' recordings, though, are actually remakes; one is "I Am Your Man" written by Ashford & Simpson and originally recorded by Bobby Taylor. The other is Sly and The Family Stone's classic "Thank You." Seal's currently in the studio recording an all-new album of original material for 2010 release, but for now, you can stream his version of "I Am Your Man" by clicking the link below.

• "I Am Your Man" audio stream (Windows Media)

R&B albums featuring new and/or classic holiday songs is a tradition that dates back almost as far as R&B itself. Over the years there's been literally hundreds of R&B and Soul artists who've remade traditional Christmas and holiday songs, including Brian McKnight, Mariah Carey and the Jackson 5, among others. And there's also been tens of dozens of Christmas albums recorded with an R&B twist. While we can't go back and revisit every great R&B Christmas album of the past 50 years, this list of a dozen recommended R&B Christmas Albums is dedicated to some of the best R&B-flavored Christmas and holiday albums of the 1990s and 2000s.

• Recommended Christmas/Holiday Albums
• Great Christmas/Holiday Songs