British singer-songwriter-producer Estelle topped the U.K. charts over the weekend with her single, “American Boy” featuring Kanye West. It’s the 28-year-old’s first top 10 hit ever.
Estelle, who is best known in the United States as John Legend’s first signee (Homeschool Records), had scored three U.K. top 40 hits from a previous record deal with V2, but had never risen higher than No. 14.
Her new album Shine, is out April 29th in the U.S. and March 31st in the U.K.
LLOYD PREPARES NEW ALBUM
Just a year on the heels of his successful album Street Love, R&B artist Lloyd will return on July 15 with his third release, Lesson in Love.
Lloyd has been keeping friends and fans abreast about what’s going on with the new project via MySpace. Initially, we were told that the new release was slated to drop sometime in June. Fans also took part in choosing the title for the new album.
The first single from the Inc./Universal album, “How We Do It,” features Ludacris and was produced by Baby Boy and Superkidd. We’ve featured the new track in the new music review.
♫ Lloyd feat. Ludacris – How We
Do It In the A
Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Polow Da Don, J-Lack, Jasper and Big Reese and Eric Hudson also contributed production to the set, while rapper Nelly guests on the song “Lose Control.”
Street Love helped Lloyd break through to a wider audience thanks to singles like “Get It Shawty” and “You” featuring Lil’ Wayne, who is also set to drop a new album this year. The album reached #2 on both The Billboard 200 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
FABOLOUS COMES BACK WITH A CONCEPT
According to reports on MTV.com, Fabolous is looking to release a new LP sometime in August and is taking a que from Jay-Z and Lupe Fiasco, preparing a concept album, adapted from a film.
“What Jay-Z did with American Gangster… he took that Frank Lucas character and put it in the frame of his Jay character,” Fab opined. “That’s what I wanna do. I don’t wanna say I that I’m actually the character, but take some of his scenarios or some things I went through and tell it in my tone.”
Fabolous refused to disclose the movie he was patterning his album after, but he said it isn’t too old, though it is classic. He doesn’t anticipate too many cameos, and producers being considered include DJ Toomp, Kanye West, Just Blaze and Polow Da Don.
This should be quite interesting. Fabolous is one of those artists that I’ve come to like, especially after his last effort, From Nothing to Something. This concept album idea should be interesting. It seems like a lot of artist are going back to that.
FAB is like a idol even though am not into this baggy trend
Love Estelle and her dress!! Fab looks great, looks like my ex, lol
I find it so sad that we England had Estelle and never gave her enough props now she over in the States to make it big we suck big time, i mean Craig David, Natasha Bedingfied, Corrin B Rae, Joss Stone all these artist are British and seem to not make it till they touch America SAD
I honestly didn’t see that song getting to number 1 but oh well it is what it is.
@JJ
Its because they dont know what to do with the artists.
Fab looks sexy as hell in that pic. I love him and Lloyd and I can’t wait for his cd and Street Love is in the car now.
I wish Estelle much success.
I think i heard somewhere that Fab is gonna use the classic movie Soul Plane as the inspiration for his concept album, i am truly excited, shit gonna be timeless no doubt. Estelle fly as ever, but damn she gonna have a rough time over here, if u black, folk only wanna see Beyonce look-a-likes over here. And she don’t have enough ass to rock the video ho look so she is in trouble fo real, i mean all she got is talent.
Congrats to Estelle
Glad to see Lloyd is coming back..for some reason I like the lil dude
Do your thing Fab..”make me better” has been my ringtone since last summer lol
I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEE FABOLOUS !!
Wow @ Estelle Congrats! But I really don’t like that song- maybe Kanye guest appearing helped it out (but not for me).
@4 went o first head Estelle i thought she was dope i have to agree with you on not knowing what to do with the artist, Estelle did also mention that on 106 and Park and also say that when artists go to America suddnely England take notice. The black market for our artisits here is not so great unless you are singing pop catering to young white children and or adults or that cluby music. (pls i mean no offense to white people it is what it is)
FUKC DAT WHAT FABLOUS NEED TO DO IS GET THAT DAMN CHIP ASS TOOTH FIXED!!!!
Lloyd Look Fresh Is That A Great Side Shot Or Did He Get His Nose Done? And Yeah Fab Be On It He Def Got Skills I Cant Wait To Hear How The New Project Will Sound
Fabulous can never do what Jay-Z and Lupe Fiasco did..Sorry
cant wait for Lloyds album..
I too am very proud of Estelle…..Black music in the UK is very much IGNORED…hell they’re afraid to cal lit black music, its so watered down and must appeal to young white kids who essentially make up the majority of market….I was surprised she was at number 1 simply because the UK industry shunned her….This girl has been doing this for a long time…..
i liek estelle.
why was TERRANCE in her video?
*like
I’m happy for Estelle. I got fam in the UK and they tell me its rough for black artists over there. They wanna put em in a box to be successful. Even ppl like Craig David aint makin much impact anymore, sadly. Her track is HOT too so props to her.
I don’t care about Lloyd’s corny ugly ass!!!!
And Fabolous’ ugly crispy corroded lips havin ass makes me sick!!! Maybe he’ll use some sisters for once in his video, and not only Latina chicks. I feel sorry for those poor women who have to pretend they all into him in those videos. If that was, I’d be too scared to stand next to his cockroach ass, cause i dont wanna catch none of dat!
can we just put it out there that the idea of a concept album isn’t new? i mean i like jay but doing an album based on something else, w/a theme, a concept if you will isn’t new and it really isn’t new when you’re a rich black man from ny that used to sell coke and crack doing a concept album based on a successful black heroine seller from ny. while jay was no frank lucas; it’s still hardly a stretch since so many rappers revel in being scar faces or nino browns-2 characters based on real people. good for lloyd, i like him enough. i LOVE Estelle’s American Boy & I’m happy for her success.
@ BRITTNEY FROM TORONTO – cuz he’s an “American Boy”, who happens to be quite popular because he’s on 106 & Park so naturally they’re gonna throw him in there.
@ JJ – That’s too bad about the market being stiffled when it comes to Black music. If you don’t fit in the box here/go mainstream then there’s always the neo-soul/R&B circuit.
But I LOVE Estelle! It’s nice to see somebody makin real music and who doesn’t look like Cassie or Rihanna!
@JJ
I know why do you think they handed over Leona Lewis to Clive Davis, im sorry but when it comes to promoting and marketing an artist the UK knows nothing!! their a bunch of clowns.
I love Estelle…I can’t wait for her album to come out here. I’m almost a lil jealous that the UK got it first…damn them to hell!!! LOL I kid…I kid!!!
I will be picking Lloyd’s new one up in July…its coming out right in time for my b.day!!! I love him…Lloyd is so underrated, his last album was so good.
And okay to Fab…as a fan of his since ’98 I got to say ole’ boy has definitely fell off. These Hip-Hop artists got spoiled around the 1998-2003 power run…they would sell a million albums easy, now they are realizing “damn I actually gotta be kind of creative to sell albums” lol. Right now we are learning who are the strongest and weakest links of the game…and Fab better bring it with this album or his azz is going to be in the Ja Rule category.
Whasup DAME?
I think Fabolous is still underrated! Love him as an artist!
I am impatiently awaiting Lloyd’s new CD! Good luck to Estelle! Love the hair!
woo hooo to ma nig FAB!
yay for Estelle.
Ameircan Boy’s my ish!!!
FYI – Estelle also has a story in Trace Magazine with Badu and Tip on the cover!
Not a Lloyd fan.
I like that song American Boy.
Lloyd has the most feminine voice I’ve heard out of a man but I am looking forward to his new album, especially the track w/ my hometown homie Nelly.
Congrats to Estelle!
I have grown to like Fabolous. “Baby” was and still is my shit. I hope that his album is dope and I hope that this “concept album” thing doesn’t become the newest played out trend in hip-hop. You know how they do. One person is successful w/ something then EVERYBODY is copying it.
he should model horton hears a WHO!
LLOYD ASS IS GAY ASS HELL IVE HEARD 2 MUCH ABOUT HIM AND HE CANT SING IN PUBLIC AT ALL LIKE ALOT OF PEOPLE AND HIS ALBUMS ARE ALWAYS WACK MAYBE 2 OR 3 SONGS AT THE MOST
FABS CHIPPED TOOTH IS HIS TRADE-MARK I LIKE HIS CHIPPED TOOTH LET THAT MAN BE AND I DONT THINK HE’S TRYIN 2 BE LIKE THEM. HE’S TAKING A CONCEPT AND MAKING IT HIS OWN JUST LIKE THEY DID
I LIKE ESTELLE I THINK HER COMIN HERE WAS A GREAT MOVE I THINK PEOPLE FROM THE UK HAVE SOME OF THE MOST UNIQUE VOICES JUST LIKE NATASHA AND AMY I LOVE THEM AS WELL WISH HER ALL THE BEST OF LUCK
“Tell mi wha gwon blood” I love when she says that in ‘American Boy’. Wonder if she’s a yardie. X-tra big-ups if so!
I never payed too much attention to Fab. Always thought he was a cutie but was never feeling him. The only reason I heard his last album was because I was in my cousins car and he played the hell outta it. But I really liked-d it! (I don’t listen to today’s rap/hip-hop) “Real Playa like” was my favorite song and still is. Always makes me daydream about a guy treating me like that…..*sighs*
GO ESTELLE!!!!!!!!…. Can’t wait 4 new album!!!
Love Estelle as well as Leona Lewis. I have been tapping into the beautiful sounds of UK music for awhile now. However, my (STILL) favorite person, is Beverley Knight. She has a beautiful voice, bar none. I haven’t seen her profiled on CL, but then again Y’all got it going on and I don’t log on everyday so maybe I’ll do a search. But check her out – Beverley Knight. Music City Soul. Gorgeous voice.
FINNALY A REAL SINGER RECIEVIN RECOQNITION. GO ESTELLE…AND HEY SHES A DARK SKIN SISTER WITH REAL LOOKS. WOOW ITS SO REFRESHIN..ITS LIKE THIS COUNTRY BEEN POLLUTED WITH FALSE SINGERS OVER THE PAST FEW YRS.
MR.FABOLOUS I USE TO LOVE HIM BACK IN HIS “CANT DENY IT DAYS” BUT NOW ITS LIKE….HE HAS BECAME A SELLOUT AND HIS MUSIC ONLY CATERS TO THE MDEIOCRE KIDDY BOP COMMERCIAL CROWD.
AND LLOYD…..IS IT ME LADIES OR IS HE NOT AZZ FINE AZ HE WAS WHEN HE FIRST CAME OUT????
Good for Estelle I’m really digging her style. I hope her CD does well in the US
Looking forward to Lloyd’s new album but not really feeling the first single
Truthfully as good and as bad the “American Gangsta” album was at the same time I would’ve rather seen Fab make that attempt first instead of Jay.
no. 3
craig david …back wen he was good….was big b4 he tried the states
it was wen he came back that ppl steped back infact. miss the old craig.
GO ESTELLE!
she rocks
got high hopes 4 her album
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
lloyd is so sexi! and that new song by estelle, not really feelin it.
once again, lloyd is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo sexi!!!!!!!
I tI thought that was Brandy
Hey Beauty QT how are u?
@29
Estelle’s family is from Senegal, she’s not a yardie, but my boy who’s known Estelle from back in the day tells me she is very much into the bashment scene.
I’m happy that Estelle is finally getting the props that she deserves, I hope her success is not short lived as she is extremely talented.
We have so many talented ‘urban’ (God, I hate that word) artists in the UK, but the labels over here don’t wanna give them the light of day. It’s a load of shit because them very same record execs love to remind people of the nationality of the successful exports, but yet they don’t want to invest and develop the talent at home, therefore leaving the artist with no choice but to go independent and/or go to the States to try and make it.
It was the same with Floetry, mainstream UK did not want to know!
Kano has recently been dropped from his label which I personally cannot believe as he had quite a successful year…I wouldn’t be surprised if he started making movements in the States. Of course, it’s easier said than done, it’s all about contacts…Estele would not be where she is now if it wasn’t for her connection with John Legend.
The UK industry needs to fix up!
Gwan Estelle!
The F-A-B-O-L-O-U-S…but seriously fabolous has been slept on and is seriously underrated. He is far more talented lyrically than most of the rappers that are coming out today and and a good amount of the veterans. His promotion team need to get on they grind, as a matter of fact he need to get another promotion team, cause the one he got ain’t doin nothin for him. His past albums haven’t reached their full potential commercially. I saw him in concert back in December and it I realized then just how many hits he had. He could be up there with the modern day rappers like the T.I.’s, Kanye’s, hell in a couple of years with Jay himself so only time will tell.
#16… not that it matters what ethnicity a video girl is, I’d rather not see African American women degrade themselves, …. Fab is Dominican not Black, aka he’s latino just like his latina video girls….
WHOO! HOO! Go Estelle. So Proud.
To be honest, im from the UK and my ethnicity is indian/asian. My music genre is Rnb.soul. That is all i listen to. Well a mix of pop and rock. The UK doesn’t take much notice, only with artists like Girls Aloud will sell out records because they appeal to white crowd. However the record companies are selfish and care only and i mean only about their money. They rather not spend money to make money.
Don take this to offence. i have never see Jay Sean on this site he is brown not Black, he potrays many rnb songs and has beautiful voice. He has sold out albums in America and tours. However because his brown he will never be seen, im not just pointing to all but black people, but some on here are so narrow minded an look upon another. martin Luther king raised the word that one day I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. An I make this clear not every1 on here,but some just look at their own kind and praise them. Black people are not the only people that can sing. Look at Christina aguliria she can blow any1 out of water and back again,mariah carey and ohhhh of course Justin Timberlake. Many artists see him as mad competition. Example ”Kanye W”.
But you people know whom you are, obviously when you comment on such posts ‘’ ‘’ OMG’’that black celebrity dating a white guy.
I don’t even comment on such worthless posts but I had to on this 1.
I not being prejudice and hope i haven’t offended any1.
Grammar mistakes im in a rush :O
That Fabolous shit sounds TOO contrived…
good on you Estelle im going to get that album, GB. Just because the record label didnt help you out girl.There’s many whom support you out here. This is your home girl lol.
Lloyd is gr8 as always,cant wait for that album!
Love Lloyd! ‘Street Love’ is in my car, too. I have to bump ‘Playa’s Prayer’ at least 3 times before going to another track. The whole album is worth listening to. His voice reminds me of Michael Jackson. That’s a plus!
Love can make people mature. I lost my girlfriend. Someone online told me a site
wealthyloves.c o m. He said that i can date girl here. who can tell me if it is useful?
@42 umm fab is only half D.R his mother is black …he considers himself black..
Congrats to Estelle
Cnt wait for Lloyd’s new cd, his last cd- ‘Street Love’ was hot!
I wanna see what fab brings to the table
I thought the girl was Brandy
Fabolous releasing his album in da summer iz surprising……………..I didn’t think I would hear from im again!
Snaps and Daps DIGS Estelle, they got exclusives!!!
http://www.snapsanddaps.blogspot.com
#44 yeh das coz dey been taught by BLACK PEOPLE
and mariah careys mixrace so u dnt make any point…
#42 umm hes black man wer r u goin. Yeh he half dominican
But he dont look it does he?
WELL DONE ESTELLE TRU BRITISH ARTIST
SICK OF ALL THE WACK PEOPLE FROM BRITIAN
GETTIN ALL THE GLORY
DEY DONT LIKE BLACK PEOPLE OVER HERE
THATS A FACT..
N IM SOO HAPPY 4 ESTELLE COZ SHE A REAAAL BLACK GURL
NOT DEESE FAKE ASS GURLS LIKE BEYONCE
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