Archive for the ‘Featured’ Category

2008 is proving to be the year of the R&B comeback: Erykah Badu, Maxwell, Brandy, Labelle, and next up, D’angelo.

Since the singer’s last album Voodoo dropped in 2000, rumors have swirled about his excessive weight gain and alleged substance abuse. He’s also had several run-ins with the law, including an arrest for assault and disorderly conduct in ‘02 and another for drunk driving and drug possession in ‘05.

But Raphael Saadiq, his friend and frequent collaborator, says that the singer is now reinvigorated and ready to reclaim his spot in music. (more…)

Her holiday album hits stores October 14, but Coko is already laying out concepts and songs for her sophomore gospel CD due in 2009. And there’s one spot on the disc she’s saving for her old crew.

“SWV, they’ve agreed to join me on this next record,” she told Milk Magazine. “I feel like our bond is so much tighter than it’s been in years. We understand each other a lot more. (more…)

At his album listening party Wednesday at NYC’s Katra Lounge, Slim of 112 made the surprise announcement that Faith Evans would be the “future first lady” of his own M3 label through Asylum.

As T3 of Slum Village spun tracks from Slim’s LoveCrazy solo debut, I asked Greg Browning, Slim’s manager, for details.

“It’s not done yet, but it is going down,” Browning told Milk Magazine. “We’re working out the deal right now. It’s actually gonna be a joint venture.” (more…)

Back in ‘01, singer Jimmy Cozier was one of the first acts — along with Olivia and Alicia Keys — signed to Clive Davis’ upstart label, J. Records. His single “She’s All I Got” peaked at #4 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, but then dude just disappeared. Well, not exactly.

During an interview with Cheri Dennis, we found out that Cozier is her manager. In addition to putting out his own reggae/R&B music independently, he runs Cozi Music Management and hooked up with Cheri back in the mid-90’s.

“I started out as a songwriter and a singer but always saw that my future was in that whole executive lane,” he said. “So, when I saw Cheri and I heard her sing, it was such a natural thing where I sort of fell in love with her voice and her style. We just flowed from there - like going to the studio together, writing together, and making music.”

Read more to find out which of his mistakes Jimmy hopes Cheri doesn’t repeat.

Hip-Hop’s veterans get taken to task as two writers square off about exactly when an MC should hang up his microphone.

Get the full debate here.

After a couple delays, Anthony Hamilton’s new album The Point of It All finally hits stores on November 18. And rappers aren’t the only ones who can grind. Since his last release in ‘05, Anthony launched his own record label, signed his wife Tarsha‘, and has already started writing for his next two albums — one, a blues/country project; the other, gospel.

When we spoke back in June, the singer also said he may or may not allegedly be “slated” to work with Dr. Dre. I say all that to say…he wouldn’t tell us.

Get to clickin’ for the full story.