Mary J has 'Love and Life' coming this summer

 

Mary J. Blige lives true to her current title 'Queen of Hip Hop' by keeping up with the DMX and Ja Rule's of the hip hop community and deliver an album a year. Mary has her 4th album in as many years 'Love and Life' gearing for a summer release and has the likes of Dr Dre and P Diddy on board for it. Sean 'P Diddy' Combs, serves as executive-producer on the set (he was the one who produced most of the beats for Mary's first two definitive LPs, What's the 411? and My Life).

"We went back to the formula we did on the first two records," Diddy said of the new project. "It's incredible hip-hop soul. She's the queen of it, I'm the king of it, [and] we made it up together — beautiful sultry vocals on hard hip-hop beats. I was the first to do that in '90. A lot of people have been able to do that and be successful, [and] all that's good, [but] now you have the originators getting back together and really putting it [down].

"There's this joint called 'Don't Go' that's incredible [and] we both love it," Diddy added, talking about what can be expected on the LP. "She has a joint with 50 Cent [and] a joint called 'Love at First Sight' with Method Man. She has so many fire joints."

Mary and P.Diddy are still in the studio finishing production on the album but they've recently released a new song called 'Hooked' to both radio and the Internet. The song features 50 Cent's 'In da Club' beat as the back bone. Presumably, this is not the actual first single. According to Mary's spokesperson, "Hooked" is just a promotional cut and won't appear on Love and Life. An official first single will be chosen when the album is closer to the end of production.

Source: MTV.com

 

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Aaliyah's 'Miss you' gets the remix treatment ft: Jay Z

Fallen angel Aaliyah's latest recording 'Miss You' will be getting the remix treatment featuring the reigning king of the rap arena Jay Z. According to MTV news, the rapper starts of with a monolog that said "What's up baby girl? You know I had to talk to you again, Dame [Dash] told me to tell you, he's doing well/ Due to the circumstances it could've been Bellevue/ I ain't got to tell you, you looking over us, our little angel".

Produced by Missy E and Timberland, it's not yet known where the song will appear, if it will be sold commercially or where proceeds from the single will go, according to a spokesperson for Jay.

With all the time Jay spends in the studio, you just know that the tribute song isn't the only material he's recorded lately. He just wrapped up production on a remix to Talib Kweli's current single, "Get By," with Kanye West, and he expanded outside the hip-hop genre, recording a collaboration with international dance artist MC Punjabi.

Source: MTV.com.

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'The Twist' originater Hank Ballard is dead

You remember the song, it had everyone (both young and old) doing the dance craze. Well the singer/songwriter who originally recorded the hit 'The Twist', Hank Ballard has died. Ballard, who suffered from throat cancer, died last week (March 2) at his home. Friend and caretaker Anna Ayala said Ballard's birth records indicate he was born in 1927, but biographical information lists his birthdate as 1936.

In 1958, Ballard wrote and recorded 'The Twist', but it was only released on the B-side of a record. A year later, Chubby Checker recorded his version of the song and debuted it on Dick Clark's American Bandstand show. It soon topped the charts and launched a dance craze that prompted the creation of other Twist songs, including 'Twist and Shout' by the Isley Brothers and 'Twistin' the Night Away" by Sam Cooke.

Ballard was discovered in the early 1950s by writer-producer Johnny Otis. He was lead singer for the Royals, which changed its name to the Midnighters. He was born John H. Kendricks from Detroit. At 15, he set out to form a doo wop group while working on the Ford Motor Co. assembly line.

Source: billboard.com.

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Kindred 'Surrender to Love' come March 25th

The Philadelphians are at it again, I just mentioned Aaries in this newsletter and this time around it s the husband and wife duo of Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon who are causing a commotion. They form Kindred the latest act to head out of the Hidden Beach stable and the message is clear: the 'Rhythm of Life' is here to stay. The city of 'Brotherly Love', Philadelphia, has been the home to such acclaimed R&B/soul producers and artist as Gamble & Huff, Teddy Pendergrass, The Roots as well as newcomers Bilal, Aaries and the Aretha Franklin of the new generation Jill Scott and you can add Kindred to the list as they prepare to take their place alongside the best of them.

 

'Surrender to Love' their debut album took almost 2 years to complete and finds it's way to record shelves come March 25th. There's been plenty of buzz and excitement generated in the industry from this album. The lead off single 'Rhythm of Life' has been an underground gem for the past year and now the entire package is here. Tracks include the brilliant 'Far away', 'Spread the word', 'I am (featuring Jasmine Sullivan)' and the title track - definitely one to get.

Source: Hiddenbeach.com