Michael Jackson in Ebony Magazine
Michael Jackson will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the masterpiece, Thriller. The celebration of this will include a new edition of the set, due Feb. 12 via Epic/Legacy Recordings. It will include remixes by Kanye West, Akon and Will.i.am of Black-Eyed Peas fame, plus rare and unreleased material from that time period.
Kanye West has signed up to remix “Billie Jean,” while Will.i.am tweaks “The Girl Is Mine” and “P.Y.T.” The album also features a new version of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” with both Akon and Will.i.am, which I posted in our new music review recently.
Jackson has been working on and off on his first studio album since 2001, but the status of the project is unknown, with no real information as far as a release. It is rumored, though, that he is working with the producers revamping the Thriller project, as well as Ne-Yo, and quite possibly, Timbaland. There have also been rumors of a Jackson 5 reunion tour. One of the Jackson 5 spoke out recently of Michael definitely being involved.
We’ll see. CL will always keep you updated!
CASSIE CHATS ABOUT NEW ALBUM
Cassie in Sean John Ads (Click for larger image)
Bad Boy recording artist, Cassie is working on a follow-up to her debut album, which has been rumored to be titled, The Return. I guess everyone deserves a second chance. Recently, Cassie sat down with allhiphop.com for an interview and discussed her new album. Check out what she had to say:
AHH: Let’s get into the new album. What do you want people to feel once they have heard it?
Cassie: It’s a more vulnerable album; it’s a little bit stripped down as far as vocally and the content in the songs. Like I did a song last night called “That’s Not What Love Is” and it’s about a very, very real situation that a lot of people can relate to. It has a lot of emotion behind it. I really hope people get it and they see me in a different light – without the makeup, the hair and the clothes… just me, by myself. My album artwork is going to be really intimate. I want people to see me, how my boyfriend would, if I had a boyfriend that is. The way the music is coming together; I sound like I feel it.
AHH: Who have you been working with on this album, as far as producers or guest appearances?
Cassie: I have no guest appearances so far; I’m sure that will come once we finish up and finalize the track listing and things like that. As far as producers, I’ve got to work with Puffy which hasn’t happened before, which is really, really cool. He’s really been hands-on with this project. I worked with Ryan Leslie, of course again, I worked with Kanye, I worked with Eric Hudson, Bryan Cox. Literally, I worked with a whole roster of talent. Last night I got the opportunity to work with a writer by the name of Jim Beanz, we had met before but had never really been familiarized properly. I’m working with Danja too.
Click here for the entire interview.
I’ve posted some new music from Cassie, but nothing that was too spectacular. The list of producers is pretty cool though, so her second album may shape up to be interesting as far as music, but probably vocally underwhelming. You can more recently spot Cassie in Sean John ads with Lauren London, and she just wrapped up shooting the sequel to the film Step Up.
BEYONCE GOES COUNTRY?
I’m not sure what to believe as far as Beyonce news goes anymore, because just a month ago, Beyonce has signed on Timbaland to produce the majority of her upcoming record, which was supposed to be a dance album. Now, ever since her Bluegrass performance of “Irreplaceable” with country band, Sugarland, at this year’s AMA’s, rumors are swirling of Beyonce taking a country western direction on her upcoming album (which I hope isn’t coming out next year).
A source tells British newspaper The Sun:
“Beyonce wants to try something completely different. She’s a fan of country music and thought that would be an interesting and exciting way to go. She contacted Amanda early this week and she is going over to work with her on it.”
Apparently, Beyonce has tapped award-winning songwriter, Amanda Ghost, who was behind James Blunt’s hit “You’re Beautiful” for the project. I don’t know about this one, guys. We’ll see. I’d much rather hear the dance album, because I think the Timbaland records would be crazy. But I guess we’ll find out how much truth there is to this.
I hear you.
I have never seen her performances, which is why I didn’t understand why she was reconsidering singing. I’ve done some research in the past few hours trying to understand why so many people felt this way about her. I still haven’t seen her perform however I do know that when Rihanna first came out, her performances weren’t that great either. She couldn’t hold her notes, she could barely dance. However RiRi definitely did her homework and apparently had some vocal coaching and came back stronger with her second album. I only hope that after the devastating responses to Cassie’s album and performances, that she has done her homework. What I was saying is that her and Ri both started out the same. Let’s see if Cassie has an “umbrella” of her own with this album. If she does, I guarantee everyone will be jumping on the Cassie bandwagon.
#52
If you’re not really familiar with country music, you might think someone’s thinking this idea crazy means that they need to expand their horizen…BUT the music is about rugged individualists…cowboys and miners and such…it doesn’t tell our story, jazz did…so SURE we don’t like country music…we aren’t supposed to..but there are a few of us, those like me who grew up around it, who do…but, again…it isn’t a sign of our insular, short-sightedness…nah…it’s a sign of culture, interests that mean something to you…country music won’t enrich the black experience…but jazz will.
And, a side note: if you’re amiliar with the genre (country music), if you grew up in a predominantly white area in the South as I did…you know that there isn’t a chance in hell Beyonce could have a successful career as a country artist. The genre is VERY ESOTERIC…
WOW!! that Thriller seems like its going to be a killer. can’t wait
Cassie….snoring my ass of
a country Beyonce…just leave that shit in Texas and it’ll be alright.
Cassie – K imma see what she working with on this on .Defenitly not going to buy it unless is something out of the box !
Micheal- I always liked micheal performing but albums not
Beyonce- I think she should just chill down she is to insecure about losing her whatever she got .
YAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!
really? we want to hear 12 more tracks of sexyback? really? i mean it was justin’s track, it was nelly retardo’s tracks, and timbo’s own tracks all sounding like no more than two songs remixed a coulple dozen times, and we want to hear beyonce do the same thing? please don’t encourage this.
I hope she don’t go country….but it may sound okay..who knows?
Timbaland’s album that came out this year was garbage. I hope he give her better material than he had on his own album which was garbage. As a Timbaland fan I was sadly disappointed and quite horrified. People always said that he can make bangin songs/beats for other artists but not for himself and I agree. I was bamboozled!
funny how no other Bad Boy artist gets a SECOND album.. but Cassie’s non-singin’ ass gets one….
Beyonce please stop..country???? What’s next heavy metal. Her voice is not suited for country music.
Mike…I’m gonna buy the re-release…but I need a new album asap. My Invincible is getting scratches in it!
@62 – I hear you, but no I don’t think people who don’t like it should open their minds, I said I think people would have an opportunity to be exposed to it, who maybe never would give it a chance because they would assume it doesn’t tell our story. In actuality a black person singing country is not a new idea and it tells a lot of black people’s stories. There are more stories than just the ones that are attributed to jazz, but again, we have not had the opportunity to tell them because, like you mentioned, the genre is quite esoteric (and that was very p.c. by the way, I know exactly what you mean). The fact is, there were many blacks who left the south and headed west, NOT north, and because (white) history books don’t tell it doesn’t mean it’s not real. You should google black cowboys and blacks in Texas and the West. We obviously migrated there somehow and those are different stories than the Renaissnaces of New York and migration to Chicago. Remember, we, along with the Natives, built this country with our blood, swear and tears. No I don’t think if you don’t like country you should just give it a try, but there may be some folks who don’t even know what it would be like to hear us singing it, but it’s definitely our history, too. Gotta learn our history is all.
Cassie seriously needs to go join a beauty pageant or something.Whoever sat this girl down and told her she had a future in singing needs to be fired. She can’t even lip synch on que. Beyonce could do a tehcno album and people would still buy it!!!!! I highly doubt she’s going country though.
#71
I’m sorry…I don’t agree…Country music doesn’t enrich our experience one bit…I’m telling you this as a person who grew up in the South, around “cowboys” and such… If you search the archives, you’ll find that Charley Pride is the only African American artist to have a successful career in the genre. I know. I don’t mean to be authoritative, but I grew up here…among it all…rodeos, trail rides, ranches…and I can tell you…do not let the “Hick Hop” Cowboy Troy fluke and the new black female country artist fool you… these two folk KNOW they’re choosing a difficult road..that’s why Cowboy Troy has a gimmick: country hip hop and the girl…well, she’s always going on and on about representing for blacks in the genre. Well, guess what? Don’t represent; there’s no need to. lol
Bey and country? Her performance on AMA was awful! A whole ablum of that ish…NOT!
Cassie need to stick to modeling and stay clear of ANY microphones.
Also, #71…if you’ve ever seen the videos, you would know just why it isn’t about us…most of the bar scenes have confederate flags in them…lol
Now, who would want to watch that? Sure not all African Americans went North, they went West and lived in laymen quarters. lol Not being crude, but I’m telling you…if one exhausted the info on black cowboys, that history still wouldn’t mean a hill of beans to the country fans. Country music, as I said, is esoteric…they are NOT singing about us…they do NOT want to…even in patriotic songs, their target audience is that Conservative like-minded few. It wasn’t until Shania Twain introduced elements of pop culture in the genre, that artists became “open” to things like African American models in videos.
that performance at the ama sucked wiff bey so she should not go country i wonder whose idea this was they must hate her …..what happen to the timberland stuff……. she must have changed her mind ….. country who the hell wants to hear her sang that……. dont git me wrong i love country music faith hill and tim are my favorites ……but bey .. hell no chile sit yo ass down some where and let yo lil sister try and shine go make some babies or sumfin lololollool
Gem – you’re preaching to the choir and kind of missing the boat on this point. Your experiences aren’t unique regarding how you grew up. Racism, outright or hidden is everywhere. I have lived in the North Midwest and the deep south and I totally agree that many of those whites who listen to country music probably will not be accepting. Of course there are some who will, but again, the same as our stories are different, there are a lot of black people (and other people of color) who were pioneers of the west and I honestly believe that there are people who would welcome someone of Beyonce’s stature calling attention to it. It’s not about white southerners accepting us, it’s about the fact that black people still have a lot to learn about ourselves. But I know that we are going to differ and that’s because you are interpreting what you have grown up around (confederate flags, etc…) to the WEST. There’s always going to be people (south or otherwise) who will turn their noses up at people of color even if they know deep down they like what they see or hear. However, that’s not my point. My point remains that, just like with so many other issues that whites felt we couldn’t accomplish or achieve, Beyonce is just the person with her star status to open a door or expose a young person, who, perhaps may be isolated in a hick town or in another type situation faced with people telling them what they can and can’t do to throw it back in their face to say, well looks like we can do darn near everything. We can golf, we can swim, we can own businesses, we can fly into space – and what do you know this black girl (FROM TEXAS) is singing country. I guess I can do anything too. Again, I would encourage you to read about black cowboys and the many black cattle ranchers in the southwest and west. We are everywhere, and because there may have been only 1 or 2 to make it halfway to commercial success before, this is a brand new day and even though I’m not huge on Beyonce, fact is, she is an international star who has serious crossover appeal. (And this from a person who has not only lived the south, sat side by side with people sporting confederate hats, but has also actually been face to face with Klan members. Believe me, I know quite a bit about your story.)
And also, for better or worse and perhaps to our own detriment sometimes, black people are far more accepting of other cultures, however country or no country, WE have set the tone for entertainment (especially music) for the past 100 years. We incorporate other cultures and make it relevant not the other way around. Kids who maybe never even heard of Kid Rock are open to him now because he has a song with Kels and Luda (not that we want to get into how I feel about the actual MAN behind the music…) or Kels with Celine Dion or Beyonce with Shakira or or a host of other compilations, like you mentioned about Shania Twain – they follow OUR lead. Screw their confederate flags. If black folks are known for something, we know how to turn something hurtful into something just downright fashionable. Not that we would wear confederate flags but you know it’s only a matter of time before Kanyeezie does a song with “Whistling Dixie” as the hook! Lol…just kidding!
I’m sorry, girl…I didn’t read all that because it’s just not so…perhaps you’re idealistic…I don’t know…it’s good that you’ve got a wealth of historical info and it’s good that you seem open-minded, but I can’t even pretend to agree with you..
Country music is NOT AT ALL meaningful to us…I’m sorry…There are phenomenal love stories, there’s great odes to rugged individualists (as I said)…there’s music to encourage and inspire…but you can get that with jazz, that and something emotionally full and intelligent…something meaningful to us. I just don’t see country music as that…sorry…but, again, I can certainly appreciate your wealth of knowledge…it’s a bit misplaced here, though….there are many other meaningful avenues and many other meaningful people to take us there…who needs to inflate Beyonce’s skulking into country music?
Okay, I just read it… I thought about it and it was disrespectful otherwise…(and hypocritical as I’m often long-winded here)… but I still disagree…I don’t think the prospect of a Beyonce country record if anything even remotely meaningful or inspirational to our culture. Maybe if we could encourage more poets and authors to record audio books, maybe feature them on BET…Yes, I know writers don’t enjoy great celebrity but that would make more sense to me than bringing ourselves to think Beyonce’s going country is anything more than another opportunistic turn by a family that just refuses to quit.
well i know how much you dislike beyonce, but it’s not about her. the same as other artists have stepped outside of the box to prove that we can do whatever we want. i’m not huge beyonce fan either, so whether it’s beyonce or another artist (as if most entertainers aren’t in it for the opportunistic situations, it’s not just the knowles family.) anyway, hopefully at some point you can look past the distase you have for beyonce to see that she’s a force and will be legendary when people look back at these times. She has the pull and the creativity to do something new and spark an interest as so many other artists before her have. i can see past the fact that i’m not a fan of hers to see that there’s other good things that can come out of what you may see as her greed. oh well, agree to disagree
Also, consider the fact that you CANNOT speak for a whole race of people. It’s racist when whites ask us to do it and it’s silly when we try to. If the music means something to me, then it has meaning to our race, even on a small level. Just not to you. Look beyond the obvious and what has been assigned to us by society as our modes of expression. If i happen to dislike jazz, so it is meaningless to me, but might mean a lot to you. My knowledge is perfectly placed in this discussion but i think your distaste for beyonce and her family overshadows your ability to comprehend what i am saying about the country (and any other genre) having relevance to us if that’s how we choose to express ourselves.
Your point is we are just as ensconced in that history and so an African American artist’s successful turn to Country, extends our own story. Right?
And my point, in all this, was and is that Beyonce’s country album will be nothing more than an opportunistic shape-shifting. It will neither be socially responsible nor culturally significant, but only, if successful (and that’s highly unlikely) a lucrative “crossing over”. Now, I say that NOT because I’m blinded by my disdain for Beyonce; instead, I say it because it is the issue at hand…and the truth. The truth of this argument is that Beyonce is rumored to have a Country album in the works. This, I think, has not one social implication, not one. There will be no telling of our story, no showing of our face, but only a poor and toothless going along to get ahead. She will not do anything rich with our history as pioneers and cowboys, she will only employ the same symbols: love, hurt, country sass…and every other thing that’s proven lucrative.
So, what I’ve been saying is that NO, it’s NOT meaningful to us, having some black artist “go country” because, truth be told, anyone who has to do such a demonstrative thing, will undoubtedly follow what’s already been established. I say this because many of India Arie’s recordings sound like those from artists like LeAnn Rimes and Shania Twain, but this woman is a real artist, sincere and smart and so we don’t even think of her “venturing into Country” because she’s merely doing her thing and that defies categorization.
So, do your thing, tell your story BUT when you go dabbling into a genre that is estoric (and, by your own standards, fake…because it doesn’t present the image of the “black cowboy” right? So, why “go country”???) you’re sure to do nothing more than whatever they’ll let you get away with. “Country” isn’t about us, if you’d like to tell our story, do it…no need to wear the badge of a racist lot.
will. i. am is one of the most underrated and underused producer we have right now. I’m so happy that MJ has pegged him to remix a track for Thrill (25th Anniversary Album).
I think people really missed the boar with his solo record. I think this album is often overlooked because of his first single (which is very disappointing). This album is far better then chart toppers Kanye West & 50 Cent.
Check it out –
The hottest tracks are: “She’s A Star”, “Get Your Money”, “Aint It Pretty”, “Donque (ft. Snoop Dogg)” , and “One More Chance”.
What does the world of good music listeners think?