* Now that Moesha has ended its run, Brandy Norwood has come home to the world of music. All grown up and married, Brandy's new single "What About Us?" produced by Dark Child, is...interesting. Its not a bad track, but can be annoying with all the background noise. Overall, not bad for someone who has been musically MIA for a few years.
* Lauryn Hill's newest single may have to grow on me, but I expected better. Its ripe with jazz, so the musical foundation is strong, but the lyrics are weak. When our favorite artists are experiencing things in their lives it usually comes through in their music - and sometimes that's good i.e. '98's Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. But this time Ms. Lauryn has missed the mark - at least in this first single.
The Duos
Everyday a new hip-hop/R&B collaboration is born. While some of them lack originality, many of them make for some pleasing sounds. And one of the more pleasing is an R&B/R&B collabo.
* Raphael Saddiq & D'Angelo have teamed up to give us a hot track, "You Should Be Here." Its the type of song that gnaws at you - it doesn't come off instantly as a hit, yet you won't turn the station when it comes on. Saddiq has his hands in a little of everything and the partnership with Mr. Brown Sugar isn't so strange since Raphael played bass and produced "Brown Sugar" and played guitar for "Voodoo." I've been trying to stay mad at Raphael for the premature death of Lucy's Pearl, but its really hard to stay mad at someone that can produce such bad jams!
* Ja Rule and Mary J. Blige both lend singing talents to "Rainy Days." Yes, Ja Rule is singing more and more these days. "Rainy Days" won't win any awards, but does reinforce Ja Rule's ability to lay down music that will move you. After two tracks with J-Lo, the Rule is making his way around the diva circuit.
* Expanding on their past collabos "Fiesta" and "Guilty Until Proven Innoncent," Jay-Z and R. Kelly are going to release an entire CD together. "Intro", the first single from "The Best of Both Worlds," has me curious. A few remixes and tracks together is one thing, but an entire CD?
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