News Roundup: Nelly Preps New Album / Irv Gotti Releases Ashanti / Rihanna Bares All In Leaked Photos

Despite lackluster sales of his last project, Nelly is going forward with plans to release a new album this November.

The “Hot in Herre” rapper will follow up 2008’s Brass Knuckles with his sixth solo album, which is due November 10 on Universal Motown

Brass Knuckles has sold over 200,000 copies to date. It debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 in September 2008, moving 80,000 units its first week.

Irv Gotti is mad at his princess. The Inc. CEO is ready to drop Ashanti from his label.

“I personally believe for her to be successful, it took the energy … when you seen her, it was 30 n—as around her, and she’s the princess so nice and pretty walking through,” he told MTV News. “The music was great, but it was the energy that was created. It wasn’t just her standing there and singing a song.”

Gotti’s relationship with the R&B singer has deteriorated over the years. “We don’t really speak or talk or anything like that,” he said. “It’s sad in a way. But in another, it’s like it’s all good.”

Even though Ashanti released her latest album The Declaration on The Inc./Universal Motown last June, it didn’t feature any input from Gotti. It was Ashanti’s first record not to go platinum.

Things have become so bad that the music mogul is ready to release her from her contract. “I don’t think she can win. She needs some guidance with that,” he continued. “But she’s not thinking like that. Really, I couldn’t tell you what she’s thinking. So that relationship has run its course and honestly, I’m gonna just drop her.”

Celebrity Bug: The timing of this interview just seems too in sync with the premiere of his show's new season and frankly, just makes him come off extremely bitter. After all, Ashanti is the most viable and relevant artist on the label, and she has constantly hinted that when her contract was up with the label that she wouldn't be resigning, so this is more so an effort to make it seem like he came out on top when that clearly isn't the case. Not only does he lose his best and most marketable artist, but she get exactly what she wanted in the first place.

As for the songstress' future, it is believed that she will remain on Universal/Motown.

Rihanna has been making a lot of appearances this week, but here’s one she didn’t plan on making. Nude photos of the 21-year-old singer leaked to the Internet on Friday.

The grainy images appear to be self-taken on a BlackBerry. They show the “Umbrella” hitmaker naked in a white hotel bedroom and bathroom. In one photo, she is seen looking at her reflection in a mirror with one nipple pierced. “I love you” and “I miss you” are written on the glass. She is grabbing her butt in another.

The pictures were taken at The London hotel in West Hollywood where Rihanna had stayed with Chris Brown. Her former boyfriend is also photographed with pink panties over his head.

Celebrity Bug: Given Ms Fenty's lawyers are already on the prowl, we won't be posting links to the pictures, but Google is a good friend for anyone wanting to catch a glimpse.