Sunday September 16th 2001

This week not so much news and updates as usual due to the tragic events in New York
and Washington. Like so many of you I've been glued to the TV. But life, and the music
business goes on and I've managed to scramble some news items together for you to
read. New albums this week from Babyface, Richard Burton and Phil Perry. Next week
be on the lookout for Gerald Levert, Macy Gray and new Motown artists Prophet Jones

 

Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and R&B Album Chart Sept 22

 

Babyface - Face 2 face

What he first hinted at with his club-bumping first single, "There She Goes",
Kenny Edmonds confirms with his fifth studio album. This is not your mama's
Babyface. Or, at least, it's not your mama's Babyface all the time. There are a
handful of those sensitive ballads he has made famous, but he's not about to croon
the album away. He dips with Snoop Dogg and chastises deadbeat dads on the
edgy "Baby's Mama." The jazzy "How Can U Be Down" finds him fending off
his girl's back-stabbing friend, while "Don't Take It So Personal" finds him in the
unusual role of a heartbreaker. He serves up plenty of up-tempo jams and experiments
with a variety of rhythms and styles. And this being Babyface, the writing and
producing is impeccable. He still knows how to get in touch with the cool in you.

 

Other news this week:

 

Monica Hoping To Land Trick Daddy For New Album

Atlanta-based songstress Monica is hard at work on her new, still-untitled album
due out in early 2002. The 20-year-old singer's debut album, 1995's Miss Thang, and
the follow-up, 1998's The Boy Is Mine, were both certified triple-platinum for sales
of three million copies each. The latter also garnered the young singer her first Grammy
Award for the title song, "The Boy Is Mine," a duet with R&B singer and actress Brandy.
Monica has since left her previous recording home Arista Records and followed her
mentor Clive Davis to his new label, J Records.
Last weekend, while Monica was in New York to participate in the Michael Jackson
tribute concerts, she shared some of the details of her upcoming album, including whom
she would like to work with: "I'm hoping to get Trick Daddy on a song. You know, I
really like what he's done with uncensored music, just moving it to another area like
MTV--you see him just as much as BET--so hopefully Jermaine Dupri and I will be
able to do a song with him. Jermaine's working on my record now, so of course Jermaine
will be on there."

Whitney Houston Alive, Spokesperson Says, Despite Rumors

Rumors that Whitney Houston died of a drug overdose are false, according to the
singer's spokesperson Nancy Seltzer. "Whitney Houston is fine," Seltzer said via
statement. "This is a rumor and it's not true. She thanks everyone for their concern.
She is fine and at home with her family."
Spokespersons at Arista Records, Houston's record label, also maintain that she is
alive. Houston's thin, frail figure made news Friday (September 7) when she performed
at Michael Jackson's 30th Anniversary celebration at Madison Square Gardens. Though
also scheduled to perform on Monday's (September 10) Jackson tribute, Houston
reportedly cancelled at the last minute without an excuse. J Records artist Deborah
Cox performed Jackson's "Wanna Be Starting Something" in Houston's place.

 

Faith Evans studies Ella

Faith Evans has studied the music of Jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald to prepare for her
new album. The singer hasn't worked on a solo project since 1998's 'Keep the Faith'.
Faith will release her third LP 'Faithfully' in November in the US which will have a
new image and sound.

Tribute single for Aaliyah

A duet Aaliyah recorded with Beck is to be released as a tribute to the singer.
The track was recorded a few months before the singer's tragic death.
'I'm Music' will appear on Timbaland and Magoo's forthcoming album, 'Indecent
Proposal', released in November.

 

News 2001