Alicia Keys "As I Am" Album Cover

The official cover art for Alicia Key's forthcoming album, 'As I Am', has surfaced. I'm definitely feeling this one - it has a real retro vibe to it.

Also, check out two new promo pics for the highly-anticipated album:

Maxwell is Getting Pushed Back More Than Mya & Amerie Combined

Maxwell has had so much time off that he’s recorded nearly three albums worth of material, but Columbia Records still isn’t ready to release the first one, Black Summers’ Night. The album will be Maxwell’s first since 2001’s Now.

“Maxwell’s still working with Sade’s band, his tried-and-true team,” Kyamba “Hip Hop” Joshua an executive at Columbia Records told Billboard. “He took some time off and now he’s ready.”

“He’s recorded so much material that he’s got a couple of albums done,” Joshua added. “So, he might be going out on the road touring for this album soon. I won’t say the album will drop first-quarter 2008, but [next] summer sounds good.” (Source)

This is just foul. I’m mad at homeboy sounding like somebody’s mama anytime little kids want to do something. “Not right now. Next year is better.” When I lived in Chicago I always wanted to go on those foot-pedal boats in Lincoln Park but my parents always told me “Now’s not a good time.” I never got to ride them damn boats. Black Summers’ Night’s release is Maxwell’s pedal boats. LMAO.

RELEASE MAXWELL’S ALBUM!

On another note: LOL @ this picture of him. It’s recent and I just don’t know what’s going on. He looks like Marc Wilmore, dude who was on the last few seasons of “In Living Color”. Right?! Also, he looks like a candidate for the “before” shot on a deodorant commercial. Look at that chalky mess on his left shoulder. SMH.

New Aretha Franklin Album!

Auntie Re-Re is coming out with a new album and I am super excited because she’s one of the dopest, classic voices of our time.

Arista recording artist Aretha Franklin, the incomparable Queen Of Soul and 17-time Grammy winner, adds another jewel to her crown with the release of a must have collection of show-stopping duets from her new album, JEWELS IN THE CROWN: ALL-STAR DUETS WITH THE QUEEN. Franklin, a Grammy Living Legend, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, will release this stellar collection on November 13, 2007.

Franklin duets with a combination of music icons and some of the hottest voices in music today including Whitney Houston (”It Isn’t, It Wasn’t, It Ain’t Never Gonna Be”), John Legend (”What Y’All Came To Do”), Luther Vandross (”Doctor’s Orders”), Annie Lennox (”Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves”), Keith Richards (”Jumping Jack Flash”), Elton John (”Through The Storm”) Frank Sinatra (”What Now My Love”), George Michael (”I Knew You Were Waiting”), Michael McDonald (”Ever Changing Times”), George Benson (”Love All The Hurt Away”), and good friend Mary J. Blige (”Don’t Waste My Time”). Aretha and Mary J. also join on a second tune, “Never Gonna Break My Faith” (with the Harlem Boys Choir). Rounding out the collection are two thrilling performances, both tributes to Aretha on her classics, “A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)” with Bonnie Raitt and Gloria Estefan; and “Chain Of Fools” with Mariah Carey.

“Put You Up On Game” with Fantasia, is the lead single from JEWELS IN THE CROWN: ALL-STAR DUETS WITH THE QUEEN, impacting radio on October 1st.

Now, Auntie Re-Re, you know I loves you, Gawt knows I do. But “Put You Up On Game”? LOL! Come on now, I hope she ain’t trying to be hip again. She tried that a little bit on “A Rose Is Still A Rose”, which with production and songwriting from Lauryn Hill, was not THAT bad. She had some great songs on there. I listen to “Here We Go Again” produced by JD all the time actually.

But I have an issue with old school artists who try to come out being all hip and young. I’m talking to you Charlie Wilson!

And if Auntie Ree comes out rocking a Keyshia Cole wig, or worse, she borrows Mary J.’s dookie braid wig, I will promptly post her as the “Mess of the Moment”. I respect my elders and all that, but I have to draw the line somewhere!

Oh yeah, and I missed out on the Stevie Wonder tour I posted about a while ago. Tickets sold out FAST.

Kelly Rowland's Set to re-release Miss Kelly

We didn’t want it the first time

I guess the rumors of Kelly Rowland re-releasing Miss Kelly are true, according to her label.

“We are planning to re-release the album later this fall,” Columbia Records’ Yvette Noel Schure told BV via e-mail. (Source)

Aren’t re-releases supposed to be for successful albums? You know, capitalize on a successful thing and squeeze as much out of it as you can? Unless Kelly is including a home video of Mat and Tina shunning Solange to the garage, a five dollar bill and some coupons I don’t think anyone will be running out to buy this mess.