‘Me & U’ singer Cassie recently sat down with the team over at AllHipHop.com to discuss her forthcoming sophomore album. As well as revealing that she is working with hit-makers Brian Michael-Cox, Danja and Kanye West, she had the following to say of the new CD:

AHHA: Let’s get into the new album. What do you want people to feel once they have heard it?

Cassie: It’s a more vulnerable album; it’s a little bit stripped down as far as vocally and the content in the songs. Like I did a song last night called “That’s Not What Love Is” and it’s about a very, very real situation that a lot of people can relate to. It has a lot of emotion behind it. I really hope people get it and they see me in a different light – without the makeup, the hair and the clothes…just me, by myself. My album artwork is going to be really intimate. I want people to see me, how my boyfriend would, if I had a boyfriend that is. The way the music is coming together; I sound like I feel it.

Cassie seems like a nice girl, but it’s things like this that annoy me slightly. “It’s a little bit stripped down as far as vocally…” I didn’t think her voice could be any more stripped down than it was on her last album. Will she literally be talking her way through the tracks this time? SMH…

Your thoughts?

As reported back in October, Kelly Rowland recorded a track with Gym Class Heroes front man Travis McCoy. The full song, titled ‘Daylight’ (a Bobby Womack cover), surfaced today and I am pleasantly surprised. Upon hearing the snippet earlier this month I wasn’t too optimistic, but listening to the mid-tempo track in its entirety has made me like it more.
‘Daylight’ is to feature on the soundtrack of French film ‘Asterix’. What’s unknown, at present, is whether the song will be on (or be the first single) from the previously announced ‘Ms. Kelly’ re-release – due early next year. A tidbit: ‘Work’ has been re-scheduled for release in the UK on 28th January 2008 meaning the long-awaited video should be premiering soon. Anyway, ‘Daylight’…

Hit or Miss?

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With Ashanti prepping her 4th studio album ‘The Declaration’ for an early 2008 release, you can now listen to a lengthy preview of the set’s alleged 2nd single. The R&B star performed the track, the Babyface LT Hutton produced ‘The Way That I Love You’, during a recent concert at New York’s Nokia Theatre. I really think she’s struck gold with this one; though the album’s first single ‘Hey Baby’ is strong (stronger than many think IMO), this would have been a better choice for a lead single. A swap, perhaps? Anyway, you can listen to the track below…

Hit or Miss?
{Credit: MaryLuvs.com}
R&B star Mary J. Blige features on the cover of the latest issue of Billboard Magazine. She looks great. I’m guessing we’ll be seeing Mary everywhere in the coming weeks – as the release of her new CD ‘Growing Pains’ draws nearer (December 18th).

What do you think of the cover?
Check out this trailer for the movie ‘Single Black Female’ which stars former Destiny’s Child member Farrah Franklin (you remember her, right?):

Where do I begin?! Aside from being one of cheapest looking movies I’ve seen in…well…a long time, the storyline had to be a joke. I can’t even lie; I don’t even know what the film is about as I type – all I know is that that budget zombie nonsense was a mess. Hold on…

Ok, I just watched it back again and am in hysterics. This can’t be for real, can it?

Will you be going to see ‘Single Black Female’?

I first spotted this idea at our friends over at A Hot Mess Blog. So credit to them.
Kinda random, I know, but I wanted to see what you guys are listening to. So saying that, what 5 tracks have you got on constant rotation at the moment? Doesn’t have to be limited to urban music, could be something new, throwback etc. Drop a comment in the comments section. Mine are:
1) Almost – Tamia
2) We’ve Had Enough – Michael Jackson
3) Music For Love – Mario
4) Take A Bow – Leona Lewis
5) Fly Like A Bird – Mariah Carey

What are your ‘Top 5 Songs Of The Moment’?
As reported, Kelly Rowland has hit the road for select dates to support her sophomore effort ‘Ms. Kelly’. Check out videos from her Atlantic city tour stop last week:
Destiny’s Child Medley

Like This

She was getting it – especially on the Destiny’s Child Medley (“Haters can’t stop me now”). Great stuff.

What do you think of the performances?

R&B singer Akon is set to be charged in connecton to the much-publicized fan-tossing incident back in June. Check out the report via PEOPLE magazine:

The YouTube clip of Akon tossing a 15-year-old fan into the crowd of a concert has come back to haunt him: Police are slapping the hip-hop star with criminal charges after a fan said she suffered a concussion in the incident.

Akon is due in a Fishkill, N.Y., courtroom Monday to be arraigned on misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment, the Associated Press reports.

During the June concert, Akon threw the audience member from the stage into the crowd. According to AP, the boy landed on another fan, Abby Rosa, who told the Poughkeepsie Journal that she suffered a concussion.

There was no immediate comment from Akon’s camp.

I’m glad. It’s about time some of these artists started taking responsibility for their actions and, by that, I don’t mean making wack ‘Sorry’ songs.

Any thoughts?

Check out this new track from R&B singer Mario. ‘City’, which features Akon, was recorded for Mario’s forthcoming album ‘Go!’, however ended up being left off the final track listing. Though I like the overall vibe of the song, I can see why it didn’t make the final cut; the album’s material is simply alot stronger than this. Still worth a listen, though. {Our interview with Mario will be up on Monday next week}


Hit or Miss?

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R&B songstress Tamia premiered the video for her latest single ‘Almost’ on her MySpace page yesterday. The song (as well as Tamia’s whole album ‘Between Friends’) stands as one of my favourites this year and I’m glad it got the single treatment. I was going to write about how sad it is that she is still so underrated, however putting out such timeless music, in an age when quality doesn’t necessarily equal good sales, is an achievement in itself. For those who have yet to pick up ‘Between Friends’, I highly recommend it.

What do you think of the video?

The video for Snoop Dogg’s latest video ‘Sensual Seduction’ made its debut yesterday. I’m kinda shocked that Snoop went through with the concept of the vid, but must say that it worked. Hilarious. It’s actually made me like the song a little better now. The track is the first to be lifted from his 9th studio album ‘Ego Trippin’ (due early 2008).

What do you think of the video?

Check out this pic of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown’s daughter Bobbi Kristina smoking…well…something. Not trying to be on some moral high ground or whatever, but at 14 years old, this just isn’t cutting it. SMH…

Any thoughts?
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