Julianne Escobedo ShepherdContributing Writer

“Bro, I’m the first to the studio and the last to leave,” says the Spanish singer, songwriter, and producer.

As contemporary autobiography, T.I.'s new high-concept, low-organization album is sadly more Glitter than Mimi.

R. Kelly returns with another bombastic, maximalist album full of sexaphors and surrealistic tales that blur the line between melodrama, delusion, and dog-and-pony show.

Part rapper, part comedian, and part internet-generation hero, Lil Wayne-- who possesses the most interesting grasp on language in hip-hop right now-- slowly leaks his new mixtape, Da Drought 3.

"A word is also a picture is a word"-- especially in the music-escapist heat of summer, and MySpace hits from a South London pop&b duo and a reggaeton pre-teen.

Resucitating hip-hop with lipgloss and ponytails thanks to Lil Mama and Lady Te.

UK soul singer Amy Winehouse adds the grit of hip-hop or rock'n'roll to her roots in classic soul and jazz-- all sung in a rugged, graceful voice that conjures busted vodka bottles and rough living.

The end of the Republican Congress, Hell Hath No Fury, Pharrell takes on freak-folk and dubstep in the same song-- it's barely halfway done, and November is already the best month of 2006.

Omarion invents R&Bemo, and Polly Jean Harvey meets Hilton Als, while Gustavo Santaolalla speaks with Jon Lee Anderson.

Doin' it for themselves: Dani Siciliano sidesteps husband Matthew Herbert's house and embraces songcraft, and Georgia Anne Muldrow channels her rage into a nourishing groove.

Goodbye and thanks to Sleater-Kinney, who left us as not just one of the best bands of the past 10 years, but one of the few with the will and intelligence to make the world better, insofar as any band can better the world.

Meet the new Christina Aguilera, same as the old Christina Aguilera.