LA Reid Considered Dropping Amerie From Def Jam Last Month

As Amerie readies the release of her Def Jam debut ‘In Love & War’ (due August), it has been revealed in a new Billboard article about the project that the label’s head LA Reid was about to drop her just last month! Check out the report below:

After a two-year hiatus, singer/songwriter Amerie has announced the release of her Def Jam debut, “In Love & War,” which will be available in August. The lead single, “Why R U,” will be serviced June 15th, with an accompanying video directed by Ray Kay (The-Dream, Lady Gaga) premiering June 8th on BET.

Producers on the album include Teddy Riley, Sean Garrett, Eric Hudson, Jim Jonsin, Rico Love and The Buchanans, who helmed the first single — the track that allegedly made Def Jam labelhead Antonio “L.A.” Reid reconsider dropping Amerie from the label just last month. So far, no collaborations have been announced.

“In Love & War” is the Washington DC-natives fourth album, and follows her Columbia records debut, “All I Have” and her Sony releases “Touch” and “Because I Love It,” which was released in Europe. “All I Have” sold 661,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, while “Touch” sold 406,000.

While I’m really salivating for new the new Amerie LP (despite feeling the single is a stinker), it’s a little worrying to know that her place at Def Jam isn’t as set as it was once thought. Sources initially indicated she was the label’s priority and the budget for her release was major, however now there are whispers that Reid nearly dropped Ms. Rogers due to creative differences; put simply he wanted a certain sound for the album and Amerie was doing something otherwise. As I’m sure Janet and co will be glad to tell you, doing what Mr Reid doesn’t approve of usually ends in disaster – and of course a flop album LOL. Here’s hoping all works out for Amerie.