Sunday November 23rd, 2003
New CD's this past week:
- 112 – Hot & wet
- Floetry – Floacism (live album)
- Al Green – I can’t stop
- Whitney Houston - One Wish: The Holiday Album
Music news stories this week:
Musiq Says His Album Is A Celebration
Philadelphia-based neo-soul singer Musiq
will release his third album,
Soul Star, on December 9th. "For The Night" is the first single from the
set which features guest appearances from Cee-Lo, Bilal, and Aaries.
Recently Musiq explained that Soul Star is a celebration. Musiq said:
"It's a celebration of a lot of things. It's a celebration of, you know,
the knowledge I've acquired. It's a celebration of me having the ability
to do what it is that I do, live
Musiq continued: "It's celebrating you know the people who've inspired you
know a lot of this you know like artists of the past who I would consider
soul stars of the past which is why the album is entitled Soul Star."
Musiq has released two albums, 2001's Aijuswanaseing and 2002's Juslisen,
which were both certified platinum for sales of a million copies.
In related news, Musiq is featured in a new advertising campaign and
commercial for the Gap. The singer is joined by Kelly Rowland, Michelle
Branch, Ginuwine, Al Green, Heather Headley, Melissa Etheridge, and others
for a performance of the song "Put A Little Love In Your Heart" in the
commercial.
Ginuwine And Ll Cool J To Record Joint Album
R&B singer Ginuwine and veteran rapper LL
Cool J will team up to record a
joint project, according to MTV.com. The duo hasn't recorded any material
yet but according to Ginuwine they've already started to line up producers
for the project. Ginuwine said, "Hopefully my man Timbaland will work with
us. Just anybody that I've worked with in the past that's willing to do it
and willing to give us their best. I think it's gonna be a big project."
Ginuwine also explained what prompted the two to record a joint set.
Ginuwine said, "I figured the ladies needed something because The Best of
Both Worlds was real street and all that. LL, he does a lot of love music
with his rapping, and I do a lot of love music with my singing, so I dig
it. I just like to do things that people can remember, but I always wanna
do my own album and make statements."
Next up for Ginuwine is the release of a new single, "Love You More," from
his latest set, The Senior. LL Cool J is presently working on his eleventh
album, DEFinition.
Ginuwine and LL Cool J aren't the only artists working on a joint project.
Rapper Baby and R. Kelly recently wrapped a joint project and Bow Wow and
B2K will be heading into the studio to record a joint project.
Brandy To Release New Album In March
R&B singer and actress Brandy is putting
the finishing touches on her upcoming
fourth CD. The set is still untitled and is scheduled for debut on March 2nd.
The
singer has released a buzz single, "Turn It Up," which is only presently
available
on vinyl.
Brandy has hooked up with Timbaland and the hit-maker produced the majority
of the singer's new set. Timbaland explained what it was like to work with the
singer to MTV.com, "Me and Brandy had a chemistry. I think I have a real
chemistry with women when it comes to my music. Brandy gave me the feeling
that we should have been working together. Her singing over my beats is
incredible."
Brandy has yet to chose the official lead single from the new set but the singer
is
tentatively slated to shoot a video for the single during the second week in
December,
according to her label Atlantic Records.
Brandy's self-titled 1994 debut album has been certified triple-platinum, while
her sophomore offering, 1998's Never Say Never, has sold more than five million
copies to date. The singer's last set, 2002's Full Moon, was certified platinum
for
sales of a million copies.
Coroner Provides More Details About Aaliyah's Death
More details are starting to surface about
the fatal crash that killed R&B singer
Aaliyah on August 25th, 2001. A coroner's inquest into the singer's death began
on
Monday, November 17th on Abaco Island in the Bahamas. The coroner's inquest is
being held to examine the crash and to rule on the causes of death.
Dr. Giovander Raju testified on Monday that Aaliyah died from severe burns
and a blow to the head according to the Associated Press. Raju also said that
the
singer "suffered generally from a weak heart."
Raju added, "Aaliyah went into such a state of shock, even if she had survived
the crash, recovery would have been near impossible."
Aaliyah's parents have already settled negligence lawsuits against the plane's
operator
Blackhawk International Airways Corp., Skystream Inc, Atlantic Flight Group,
and Gilbert Chacon.
Aaliyah and eight others were killed when the twin engine Cessna 402B they were
flying in crashed shortly after take-off. Authorities believe the aircraft was
700
pounds overloaded.
In related news, Aaliyah won favorite female artist-Hip-Hop/R&B honors last
Sunday night, November 16th at the 31st annual American Music Awards.