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.