Wrapping up this fall's intense amount of R&B/Urban Pop releases including Amerie's "In Love & War" and Angie Stone's "Unexpected," are five new album releases. Coming straight from some of music's heavyweights including Alicia Keys, R. Kelly and Mary J. Blige, these new releases should make holiday giving a bit easier for the R&B and Urban Pop music enthusiast in your family...
The self proclaimed "R in R&B," R. Kelly kicks things off with his anticipated album "Untitled". The first album to be released from the "TP-2.com" and "Chocolate Factory" singer/songwriter in over two years, "Untitled" is essentially the often hit-making veteran's comeback disc after being acquitted of charges that turned his career upside down in recent years. Featuring the hit single "Number One" (ft. Keri Hilson) and its follow-up "Religious," "Untitled" picks up where "TP-3: Reloaded" left off. Not only is the "I Look To You" (Whitney Houston) songwriter back to singing songs with his signature amount of word play but, he's just as raw and as sexually titillating as before... R. Kelly's "Untitled" in stores December 1 (see tracklisting/additional info below).
Chris Brown, like R. Kelly, returns to music after a very public fall this month with "Graffiti". His third studio album, "Graffiti" follows the seeming hit after hit producing sophomore project "Exclusive," which spawned "Take You Down," "Forever," "Superhuman," "Without You," "Wall To Wall," and "Kiss, Kiss". Making now qualms about his project and recent past, Brown is hopeful that "Graffiti" will put focus on talent. "I really just try to focus on what I can do, as far as my talent," Brown told ABC News correspondent Robin Roberts during a recent 20/20 feature. "Really just show people what they fell in love with me for. Try to give them all of me back." With "Graffiti," Brown takes music fans on a journey that includes dance/club ready songs like the already charting single "I Can Transform Ya" (feat. Lil Wayne and Swizz Beatz) but he also dives into love, pain and reflection on songs like "Crawl" and "Famous Girl". -- Chris Brown's "Graffiti" is in stores December 8 (see tracklisting/additional info below).
December heats up on the 15th with two anticipated releases from a multi Grammy Award winner and the man that had the whole world singing "Lost Without You" and "Can You Believe" not too long ago.
Alicia Keys and Robin Thicke return to music via "The Element of Freedom" and "Sex Therapy" December 15. Both albums lead off with classic songs about love and romance including "Doesn't Mean Anything," "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart" and "Sex Therapy".
Featuring a surprise collaboration with fellow Grammy-winner Beyonce, Alicia Keys' "The Element of Freedom" sports fourteen songs, including a remix of her Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping hit with Jay-Z "Empire State of Mind". (see tracklisting below)
Thicke, progressing on his "Sex Therapy" also pulls in unexpected help from burgeoning Hip Hop star Nicki Minaj while also sharing songs with Snoop Dogg, Jazmine Sullivan, Estelle, Jay Z, Kid Cudi and The Game. (see tracklisting below)
While December was to be capped off with two major releases, "Papers" singer Usher has been shipped off to 2010, leaving Mary J. Blige as the year's last major R&B/Urban Pop release.
Anticipated for some time, Mary J. Blige's "Stronger With Each Tear" becomes her ninth studio album. Featuring collaborations with T.I. ("Good Love"), Drake ("The One"), and Trey Songz ("We Got Hood Love"), Blige also returned to work with producers and songwriters behind her 2005 hit album "The Breakthrough" on this effort.. Johnta Austin ("Be Without You"), Bryan Michael Cox ("Be Without You"), Rodney Jerkins ("Enough Cryin'") and Raphael Saadiq all contribute to "Stronger With Each Tear".
"Stronger with Each Tear" ... in stores December 21 (see tracklisting below).
That's it for December's top R&B/Urban Pop releases. Watch out for new music from Omarion, Usher, Lloyd, Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Kevin Cossom and more in 2010.
December 2009 R&B/Urban Pop Releases
December 1 - R. Kelly 'Untitled"
1. Crazy Night (ft. Rock City)
2. Exit
3. Echo
4. Bangin' the Headboard
5. Go Low
6. Whole Lotta Kisses
7. Like I Do
8. Number One (ft. Keri Hilson)
9. I Love the DJ
10 Supaman High (ft. OJ da Juiceman)
11 Be My #2
12 Text Me
13 Religious
14 Elsewhere
15 Pregnant (ft. Tyrese, Robin Thicke & The-Dream)
December 8 - Chris Brown "Graffiti"
1. I Can Transform Ya featuring Lil Wayne & Swizz Beatz (Produced by Swizz Beatz)
2. Sing Like Me (Produced by Big Makk, Keith Thomas & Big Lo)
3. Crawl (Produced by Adam Mesinger & Nasri Atweh)
4. So Cold (Produced by Polow Da Don)
5. What I Do featuring Plies (Produced by The Runners)
6. Famous Girl (Produced by Ryan Leslie)
7. Take My Time featuring Tank (Produced by Tha Bizness)
8. I.Y.A. (Produced by Free School)
9. Pass Out featuring Eva Simons (Produced by Brian Kennedy)
10. Wait featuring Trey Songz & Game (Produced by Polow Da Don)
11. Lucky Me (Produced by Jevon Hill)
12. Fallin Down (Produced by Charlie Bereal)
13. I'll Go (Produced by Brian Kennedy; Co-produced by James Fauntleroy)
* Deluxe Edition includes:
1. GottaBe Ur Man (Produced by Polow Da Don)
2. Movie (Produced by Jevon Hill)
3. For Ur Love (Produced by Free School)
4. I Need This (Produced by "Oak")
5. I Love U (Produced by Polow Da Don)
6. Brown Skin Girl featuring Sean Paul (Produced by Scott Storch)
December 15
Alicia Keys - "The Element of Freedom"
1. Element of Freedom (Intro)
2. Love Is Blind
3. Doesn't Mean Anything
4. Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart
5. Wait Til You See My Smile
6. That's How Strong My Love Is
7. Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)
8. Love Is My Disease
9. Like the Sea
10 Put It in a Love Song" (ft. Beyoncé)
11 This Bed
12 Distance and Time
13 How It Feels to Fly
14 Empire State of Mind (Part II)
Robin Thicke - "Sex Therapy"
1. Mrs. Sexy
2. Sex Therapy
3. Meiplé (Me I Play) (ft. Jay-Z)
4. Make U Love Me
5. It's in the Mornin (ft. Snoop Dogg)
6. Shakin' it 4 Daddy (ft. Nicki Minaj)
7. Elevatas (ft. Kid Cudi)
8. Rollacoasta (ft. Estelle)
9. Million Dollar Baby (ft. Jazmine Sullivan)
10 2 Luv Birds
11 Jus Right
12 Diamonds (ft. The Game)
December 21 - Mary J. Blige "Stronger With Each Tear"
(TBA)
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