Ralph Tresvant Is Preparing New Album

Ralph Tresvant, who grew up before our very eyes as the front man of New
Edition, is looking to put a new solo album in stores by October or
November.
The singer has been in the studio working on his first solo project since
“It’s Going Down” his sophomore album released in 1993. The artist is working
with Xzault Media Group in California and is said to have new material
that will satisfy the fans who had the New Edition buttons on their
Members Only jackets back in the 80s, as well as new music lovers.
Tresvant. is also setting up shop behind the microphone, having recently bought
shares of Xzault Media Group with plans to produce film and television
projects, as well as two new albums with the company.
As for New Edition, Tresvant is still involved with Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky,
Mike and Johnny, and a new N.E. album is said to be in the works for next
year.

KeKe Wyatt On An “Emotional Rollercoaster”

Soulful singer/songwriter Ketara “Keke” Wyatt’s much anticipated return to
the R&B music scene has been wholeheartedly embraced by urban radio, with
KeKe’s first new single in five years, “Put Your Hands On Me,” snagging
the #1 most added spot at the format, her debut single from her highly
regarded upcoming album “Emotional Rollercoaster” scheduled for release in
the fall of 2005.
The aptly titled sophomore effort marks a much-heralded return for the
acclaimed KeKe, her debut effort as a newly signed Cash Money artist.
“Emotional Rollercoaster” includes a wide range of sizzling tracks from
the accomplished songstress, and features such superstar producers as
Brian Cox (Usher) and Bad Boy hitmaker Stevie J., as well as Steve
Morales, who has worked with female superstars such as Britney Spears and
Christina Aguilera. The album also showcases production efforts by Cash
Money impresario Mannie Fresh, and guest appearances by fellow label mates
Baby aka Birdman and Lil Wayne, among others.
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, but now living in Kentucky, KeKe has been
favorably compared to contemporary R&B female superstars such as Mary J.
Blige and Faith Evans, among others. Her trademark style of fluent,
sometimes gritty, hip hop-influenced R&B brought her much attention early
on in her career, with KeKe appearing in a very early version of Destiny’s
Child before eventually being discovered by American Idol’s Randy Jackson.
KeKe signed to MCA Records in 2001, offering up a rousing debut album,
Soul Sista, a critical and commercial success that sold more than 600,000
units and unveiled the smash debut single, “My First Love.” The hit song
featured frequent KeKe collaborator Avant, who joins the singer/songwriter
once again on Emotional Rollercoaster. “My First Love,” was a #1 Urban
Mainstream Record in 2001 and remained on BET’s 106th and Park for six
consecutive weeks.

Dwele Resurfaces On Music Scene With “Some Kinda …” In October

R&B music will soon get a well-deserved boost, as Virgin recording artist
Dwele puts the finishing touches on his highly anticipated sophomore
album, “Some Kinda” Rarely does a new artist inspire such early
critical praise and fan appreciation - both on the US and international
fronts - with a debut album as Dwele did with his groundbreaking
“Subject” in 2003.
Entertainment Weekly wrote that the album “spreads sultry, jazz-inflected
R&B over subtle but muscular hip-hop grooves.”
Fueled by the hit single “Find A Way”, “Subject” sold over 250,000 copies,
based mainly on the strong, word-of-mouth buzz generated from Dwele’s
dynamic live shows and cool demeanor. The new album, “Some Kinda..”, will
arrive in US record shops on October 4.
“I’m really excited to finish the new album and, more importantly, get
back in front of the people,” says Dwele. “It will be great to finally
share new material that I’ve been working on for several months. I think
people will really see my growth as a songwriter and musician.” In
addition to working on the new record, the artist has continued touring,
including recent sold-out shows in London and Paris.
The first single “I Think I Love You,” produced by Mike City (Usher, Carl
Thomas, Nappy Roots) serves as a soulful preview of “Some Kinda..”. The
midtempo burner explores a quickly developing relationship and picks up
where the artist left off with Subject. “Some Kinda..” takes his
creativity to the next level, while still giving fans his unique brand of
soul music - a heady mix of traditional and modern R&B, with strong
influences from hip-hop and jazz.
Born and based in Detroit, Andwele ‘Dwele’ Gardner started playing the
piano at age six. Although he tragically lost his father at 10, his
passion for music at an early age lead to Dwele (pronounced Dwell- ay;
means ‘God has brought me’ in Swahili) becoming a self-taught
multi-instrumentalist. Growing up as a fan of hip-hop lead to
collaborations with Slum Village (who appear on “Some Kinda..”) and
Bahamadia, among others.
Dwele himself produced nine tracks on the new record; other album
producers include Mike City, Jay Dilla (Slum Village) and G-1 (R. Kelly,
Raphael Saadiq.

FBI eyes 2nd bank robberyMIDWEST CITY, Okla. — A man was arrested Wednesday and charged with two counts of federal bank robbery related to three recent bank robberies.

Michael William Allen, 25, of Midwest City, is a suspect in the Aug. 10 robbery of Credit Union Service Center in Midwest City.

Police said Allen was arrested on Aug. 24 at 5 p.m. by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol on unrelated charges.
=====================================
This is the guy across the street. We actually ran into him 1 day when my mother and I went to the bank. He was at the vet’s office (he doesn’t have a pet) next door to the bank.. apparently, he was casing the bank. Word on the street is that the police caught him on a speeding ticket.

“God is an imaginary friend for grown-ups.” ~Unknown

News about Common “”Go” remix:
Common’s sex-fantasy single, “Go,” is getting a steamy remix courtesy of Jay Dee, who produced two songs for the Chicago rapper’s recent album, Be. The reworking will be notable for more than just sultry pillow-talk, though - it’ll also feature the return of D’Angelo
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After string of run-ins with law, Grammy-Award-winning R&B singer D’Angelo appears to be taking steps to get his life together.

A few days after his hearing on drug and alcohol charges in April, D’Angelo, otherwise known as Michael Eugene Archer, pledged to the court that he would seek treatment for substance abuse. D’Angelo, who lives in Midlothian, was also granted permission to leave the state to go to Los Angeles.

“He’s in some sort of rehab program out there,” says Mark Krueger, senior deputy commonwealth’s attorney for Chesterfield County.

In November 2002, D’Angelo was arrested and charged with aggressive driving and verbally assaulting a woman in Chesterfield. He settled with the woman in civil court and paid a $500 fine for obstruction of justice.

But his legal problems didn’t end. He was arrested in January in the city of Richmond and charged with disturbing the peace, carrying a concealed weapon, driving with an open container of alcohol and driving without a valid driver’s license. The case is pending.

While his troubles have kept his name in the news, his failure to release new material has kept his name off the music charts. That may soon change. D’Angelo’s lawyer, Ned Mikula, said his client is “hard at work” on a new recording.

The singer’s last album, Voodoo, released in 2000, sold 1.5 million copies. Since then, the singer has been rumored to be recording a follow-up with the working title of “James River.” (As he left the courthouse in April, the singer responded to a question about his next record and indicated that it would have a different name.)

After string of run-ins with law, Grammy-Award-winning R&B singer D’Angelo appears to be taking steps to get his life together.

A few days after his hearing on drug and alcohol charges in April, D’Angelo, otherwise known as Michael Eugene Archer, pledged to the court that he would seek treatment for substance abuse. D’Angelo, who lives in Midlothian, was also granted permission to leave the state to go to Los Angeles.

“He’s in some sort of rehab program out there,” says Mark Krueger, senior deputy commonwealth’s attorney for Chesterfield County.

In November 2002, D’Angelo was arrested and charged with aggressive driving and verbally assaulting a woman in Chesterfield. He settled with the woman in civil court and paid a $500 fine for obstruction of justice.

But his legal problems didn’t end. He was arrested in January in the city of Richmond and charged with disturbing the peace, carrying a concealed weapon, driving with an open container of alcohol and driving without a valid driver’s license. The case is pending.

While his troubles have kept his name in the news, his failure to release new material has kept his name off the music charts. That may soon change. D’Angelo’s lawyer, Ned Mikula, said his client is “hard at work” on a new recording.

The singer’s last album, Voodoo, released in 2000, sold 1.5 million copies. Since then, the singer has been rumored to be recording a follow-up with the working title of “James River.” (As he left the courthouse in April, the singer responded to a question about his next record and indicated that it would have a different name.)

Platinum-selling neo-soul artist D’Angelo is reportedly moving to Clive
Davis’s thriving J Records label, home to such artists as Alicia Keys,
Santana, Cassidy, Fantasia, and Maroon 5. According to Billboard, D’Angelo
is making the move from Virgin Records, where he scored with his 1995
debut album Brown Sugar and his 2000 follow-up Voodoo. Both albums sold
1.7 million copies apiece.
The Virginia-bred singer and songwriter has been mostly missing from the
music scene for the past five years. He appears on a remix of Common’s
recent single “Go,” and is slated to appear on the upcoming Sly Stone
tribute set Different Strokes By Different Folks, due September 27th.
In recent years, he’s contributed to Erykah Badu’s 2002 set Mama’s Gun,
Raphael Saadiq’s 2002 set Instant Vintage, and jazz trumpeter Roy
Hargrove’s neo-soul experiment The RH Factor in 2003.
There is no word yet on when D’Angelo will release his third full-length
studio set.

Y:L Magazine is a progressive new publication for African American girls aged 12-17. This is the stage in life when girls are beginning to discover who they are as individuals and begin forging identities for themselves. In a popular culture that floods audiences with images of African American women as hyper-sexed, money-hungry, objects of desire, Y:L’s mission is to inform, encourage and educate young girls that they don’t have to fit into that mold. By providing them with the tools to bolster their confidence, self-esteem and self-image, teenaged girls can have a better understanding of their worth as people. Striving to educate, rather than preach and persuade, Y:L is to be a reference to help girls make informed decisions in their lives. By incorporating elements on dating, school, fashion, beauty, entertainment, fitness, community service and current events, it is our hope our readers will be inspired to exceed expectations and be more than another Black girl stereotype.

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