Britney Spears Taps Hit-Boy, Will.i.am for New Album

The Associated Press, Thursday, January 3, 2013, 5:21pm (PST)

Britney Spears revealed last week that she's working with "new inspiring producers" on her new album -- and Hit-Boy is one of them, according to Entertainment Weekly.

The rising producer of Kanye West and Jay-Z's "Ni**as in Paris," Kendrick Lamar's "Backseat Freestyle" and other hip-hop hits is reportedly working on Spears' follow-up to 2011's "Femme Fatale." However, Spears' rep told the magazine that writer Elijah Blake (Usher's "Climax") hasn't worked with the singer, contrary to an interview in which he was quoted as announcing a collaboration.

Joining Spears again will be Will.i.am, who produced "Femme Fatale" track "Big Fat Bass" and enlisted Britney for his own recent single, "Scream and Shout." The latter track's video has over 55 million views. "Femme Fatale" was another success for the pop star, hitting No. 1 and moving 769,000 copies in the U.S. 

Spears' public return to recording comes following an unconfirmed Us Weekly report that she'll exit Fox's "The X Factor" before its upcoming season. The reality competition's third season will have at least one shake-up at the judge's table: Antonio "L.A." Reid announced his departure in December.