OUTKAST (Spring, Summer, & Winter 2010) It’s been some time since we’ve heard from this multi-platinum selling, award winning duo. While guest spots have been done here and there—most recently, Andre 3000 on John Legend’s ‘Green Light’, and Big Boi on Mariah Carey’s H.A.T.E.U. (So So Def Remix)—a full Outkast project is finally underway. Outkast fans can rejoice in the news that 2010 will feature THREE albums from the duo, one solo for Big Boi, one solo for Andre 3000, and a new album featuring them both! First up is Big Boi’s ‘Sir Lucious Left Foot’ due in the spring. Originally planned for release in 2008, label changes and an internet leak forced the project to be pushed back multiple times. The album features Mary J. Blige, Jamie Foxx, George Clinton, T.I., and Gucci Mane amongst others, including Andre 3000. A video for new single ‘Shine Blockas’ is due in late January. ‘Sir Lucious Left Foot’ will feature much of the Atlanta hip-hop style that made Outkast so popular to begin with. For Andre’s album very little information is available. Recording began in late 2007, with Andre stating that this would be an album that featured him rapping more than it did singing. Guests like Erykah Badu, Fonzworth Bentley, and Sleepy Brown have recorded material with Andre, but it is not yet known if said songs will make the album’s final cut. Expect 3000’s new solo album sometime during summer 2010, right before Outkast regroups for their next LP tentatively due next December and rumored to be titled ‘10 The Hard Way’.
MISSY ELLIOTT (March 2010) After a five year hiatus since her last album, Missy Elliott is finally ready to give fans what they’ve been waiting for. ‘Block Party’ her seventh album, is due this spring. Elliott originally finished recording ‘Block Party’ in December 2007, and had planned to release it the following spring. However, after an opportunity presented itself to work with new producers who shared Missy’s unique vision, the album was pushed back. After multiple delays, and several officially released and leaked singles, ‘All 4 U’ featuring Lil Wayne looks to be in contention to be the new lead single. The song is classic Missy with her singing and rapping. The inclusion of Wayne is curious here given his verse is truly x-rated and will have to be either edited in some form or deleted altogether if Elliott is looking for the massive radio play she garnered with songs like ‘Lose Control’. Production by long time collaborator Timbaland is expected, which is great news considering he had very little input on Missy’s last album. Others making beats behind scenes include Pharrell, Swizz Beatz, and Danja. Those new producers Elliott was so eager to work with are The Arkitects, Jack Splash, and Bloodshy & Avant. As far as vocal collaborators are concerned, Jazmine Sullivan, Teyana Taylor, and T-Pain have been confirmed. The album is said to be filled with high-octane, uptempo tracks, as the title implies, a party atmosphere and sound are expected to make up the majority of ‘Block Party’. Let’s just hope the party does indeed get started this March.
GERRY CAPÓ aka "Lionize" (Summer 2010) Puerto Rican reggaetón duo Erre XI gained huge popularity when they made their debut in 2007. Working closely with the Luny Tunes, who founded the group and consequently produced most of their music, Erre XI became known for writing hits for other artists and performing background vocals on various projects. In 2008, they finally released their own solo project, ‘Luny Tunes Present: Erre XI’ which featured the smash hits, ‘Carita Bonita’and ‘Al Desnudo’. The album was well received and lead to a massively successful tour of Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe. Unfortunately for fans, in August 2009 the duo announced they were splitting, months after beginning work on what was supposed to be their highly anticipated sophomore album. Not much is known about what lead to their split, and as always, rumors ran rampant. After leaving the Luny Tunes and Machete Music/Mas Flow Inc., the duo became highly sought after in the Spanish music industry, with lead singer Lionize garnering the most attention. Despite a lucrative offer from Wisin y Yandel’s WY Records, Lionize ended up signing with El Cartel Records (Daddy Yankee’s record company). Since the Erre XI name was considered property of the Luny Tunes, Lionize and Raphy have shed the moniker. It is planned to be used on a new duo, Dylan & Lenny (who are currently working a new single, ‘Nadie Te Amara Como Yo’ and look to release their debut in the spring). Raphy is still working out details of his own solo offer, but it is Lionize, who has begun going by his real name Gerry Capó Hernández, that will release a disc first. Gerry’s solo debut on El Cartel is due this summer and will feature a blend of hip-hop, R&B, and reggaetón. Gerry is taking his solo project quite seriously, having recorded new music recently with Puerto Rico’s Grupo Mania, as well as Anthony ‘Romeo’ Santos of Aventura. Daddy Yankee himself has also commented recently on plans to enter the studio with Gerry. Expect a single sometime within the next few months and a co-tour with Daddy Yankee after the album’s release. Gerry should have no trouble becoming a successful solo artist, as this singer/songwriter is quite talented and ready for the spotlight.
NO DOUBT (Summer 2010) Here’s a great question: When was the last No Doubt studio album released? If the answer seems difficult to remember, it’s only because of the extensive hiatus this band has taken over the last decade. After ‘Tragic Kingdom’ and the single ‘Don’t Speak’ put them on the map, the group could do no wrong. Multiple albums and numerous awards followed, yet the focus almost always seemed to be on lead singer Gwen Stefani. When Stefani announced back in 2003 she was planning a solo album, very few were surprised. Two successful solo albums and two children later, Stefani returned to the band refreshed and ready to get back to work. No Doubt’s latest album started becoming a reality in 2008, when writing first began. A tour in ’09, (their first in several years) helped the band regroup and regain chemistry. Interscope Records has kept information regarding the new album top secret, but few details have leaked. The album is supposedly produced by Mark "Spike" Stent, who helped produce and mix ‘Rock Steady’. Also a mix of song styles is also expected. Regardless of what it sounds like, the public is eager to hear new music from this fascinating group. Looks like the wait is almost over! Oh and the answer to the above question is 2001 for those paying attention ;)
JOJO (Summer 2010) Joanna Levesque came to fame after competing on the popular show ‘America’s Most Talented Kids’. Shortly thereafter, she was signed to a label and released her debut in 2004 which featured the hit single ‘Leave (Get Out)’. Flash forward to 2010, and JoJo is ready to bring us her latest album (her third), titled ‘All I Want Is Everything’. After a mildly successful turn as an actress--she starred in ‘Aquamarine’, ‘RV’, and several TV shows—JoJo returned to her musical roots to put together her next album. On the verge of being 20, this album will offer the public its first glimpse into a more mature JoJo, and as a result, a more mature sound. ‘All I Want…’ will feature production by a host of talent including: The Underdogs, JR Rotem, Bryan-Michael Cox, Ron Fair, Darkchild, Timbaland, and Toby Gad. While a first single is expected in the next few months, JoJo can currently be heard on the Timbaland tracks ‘Lose Control’ and ‘Timothy Where You Been’ from Shock Value II. JoJo is one of the rare female entertainers who can actually be considered a ‘vocalist’, so it will be interesting to see where her new material takes her. To build interest in her new album, and put her name back out there, JoJo will be releasing a mixtape in the spring that is said to feature production by The Neptunes. Here’s hoping JoJo’s new project can bring her the same type of success she had with ‘Leave (Get Out)’.
DONNIE KLANG (March 2010) Many remember ‘Making the Band’ for bringing us the great, (Danity Kane and Day 26), and the not-so-great, (Da Band and O-Town). But few actually remember the lone solo star of the series, Donnie Klang. Klang was a finalist during the season that saw the creation of Day 26. Diddy was so impressed with him that he signed Donnie to a solo deal. In 2008 he released his debut, ‘Just A Rolling Stone’. While it received almost universal critical acclaim, the album was lost in the shuffle of higher profile releases on Bad Boy, like ‘Welcome to the Dollhouse’ and the self-titled debut of Day 26. Radio was hard on Donnie as well, seemingly dismissing him as a Justin Timberlake wannabe and showing his singles little to no love. This spring he will release his sophomore album and have a chance to prove to the haters that he is actually talented. With the majority of his new album being self written, expect a deep look into who Donnie Klang actually is. Rumored to be titled 'Welcome to Heartbreak', the new album demonstrates how well Donnie can tackle both pop and R&B. ‘Prisoner of Love’ is the new promo single and show’s Donnie’s softer side, but it’s the edgy ‘Satisfied’ that really illustrates Donnie’s versatility as an artist. That song is currently in contention to become the official first single; it was previously an interlude on his last album. A decision on a single and a new music video are expected soon too, as Donnie prepares to show the world that Diddy’s decision to sign him was not a mistake.
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Written by CJA "Babyboi"
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