Well...July has basically ended. But we're going to add the July installment of NJS4E's Urban Outlook anyway.
The first place we'll stop is on Timbaland, who seems to be having a renaissance with his production.
Ever since ditching Ginuwine (or so it seems), and becoming more or less irrelevant to the core of urban music in the face of newer producers (think: Nitty,Little John,Jazzie Pha, Kanye West), Timbaland seemed to sort of "fall off." While his contributions to Brandy's 2003 album Afrodisiac (like the bangin' yet aborted first single "Turn It Up") were notable, they went largely ignored in favor of Kanye West's breezy "Talk About Our Love." So it seemed to be curtains for 'ol Timbo, as he slipped into relative obscurity and found time to get into body building.
Now comes 2006. Nelly Furtado returns with Timbaland on the now blazingly hot single, "Promiscuous Girl," which is admittedly an odd pairing. Sure the two had worked together on a remix to her single, "Turn Off The Light" back in 2002, but on this album marks the first time Timbaland actually creates a song with this former "granola" girl. And while this writer wasn't sold on the song at first...it's appeal has proven itself undeniable. It's a certified pop smash, the pairing even made more possible by the previous "swirl" of pop and urban styles in The Black Eyed Peas...
Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland - "Promiscuous" Live in NYC
"Mix your milk with my cocoa puff, milky, milky, right....?"
But the sonic miscegenation doesn't stop there. Like a one-two punch, Timbaland's work on Justin Timberlake's new album solidifies his re-position as a progressive pop producer, thanks to his experimentally zany work on JT's "SexyBack." And if this song is any indication of Timbaland's new re-invention, we can only assume that throughout the rest of 2006 and much of 2007, the industry will be singing his praises as a music innovator once again...congrats.
Justin Timberlake - "SexyBack"
Speaking of re-invention, Janet Jackson seems to have finally surrendered to the changing tides of music and allowed herself to become fully submerged in the sounds of now. While "Call On Me" seems to be meeting with mixed reactions, the production on the track solidly demonstrates that her hubby (did we just say that?!) Jermaine Dupri's horribly underrated ingenuity and versatility as a producer.
Editor's Note: Janet and Jermaine aren't really married, but we think they may be awfully close!
Since 1992, Dupri has been relevant to the music world, first as the mastermind behind Kris Kross, then Da Brat, then remixes for Total and Notorious B.I.G., then producing Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby," then dropping his own set anchored by the now classic "Money Ain't A Thing," and by 2000, coming full circle with a little tyke named Lil' Bow Wow. Let us not forget "Welcome To Atlanta" in the interim, or his classic cuts on LaFace Records with T-Boz,Left-Eye,Chili, or Usher for that matter! And while this previous passage may seem excessive, we're really only scratching the surface of Jermaine Dupri's impact. Oh yeah, there was Xscape and Destiny's Child too...
So now, after having brought Mariah Carey back from the abyss, blessing Usher with his best album to date, and inspiring a stew of artists from his stomping grounds in Atlanta, it is up to JD to bring his "wifey," Janet Jackson back from relative irrelavance. And by pairing her with Nelly on top of a simple, yet intricately put together bed of music that pays homage to Ms. Jackson's Flyte Tyme heritage, methinks Dupri succeeded. The new Janet album drops this September, and what a September it will be!
Janet Jackson - "Call On Me" feat. Nelly
Ryan Leslie of Next Selection wins with his biggest hit to date, the sparkingly jammin' "Me & U" by Cassie which is easily one of the defining songs of the summer of 2006. NJS4E has been keeping tabs on Mr. Leslie for quite some time (since 2004), thanks to his work on New Edition's "Hot 2 Nite." We firmly believe the best has yet to come from the Next Selection camp.
And then there's Bad Boy's Young Joc and his album, New Joc City. We had to give him a mention because while his music is clearly aimed at the youth (and there is nothing classy about it), you have to admire the catchiness of the beats, and the strong hook on a song like "I Know You See It," which is currently murdering the charts in Atlanta, and will likely soon spread across the country. Bad Boy Records finally has a new star...this should help set up Diddy's reportedly final album which is due within the year.
Young Joc - "I Know You See It"
What else is going on...Uptown Records founder and former Motown CEO Andre Harrell is now a judge/music expert/mentor on ABC TV's The One, which is the American version of a Pop Idol competitor that has proven itself successful in other countries. The show isn't bad actually...one should definitely give it a try!
And Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins also finally redeems himself after lackluster success on albums by Michael Jackson,The Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and others between 2001 and now. However, his work on Beyonce's "Deja Vu" establishes the Dark One as very much still able to pack dancefloors, even if it sounds like a Rich Harrison rip-off...
Last but not least...T.U.G. (The Ultimate Entertainment Group) stays true to their new jack-esque roots with Omarion's "Entourage," easily his most mature sounding single since first emerging with B2k back in 2002. While the new album 21 doesn't drop until October 3rd in the US, you can catch the video here:
Omarion - Entourage
So that's it for a brief recap of what's going down on the Urban music scene for the month of July and moving into late summer. Let us know what you think of this style of Urban Outlookhere:
