Legendary producer Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie are teaming up to remake the charity classic “We Are The World” to raise money for earthquake-ravaged Haiti.
The original version benfited victims of famine in Africa and featured the talents of Richie, Jackson, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, Billy Joel and several other superstars. The song has since been used for other humanitarian causes and has raised an estimated $63 million over the years.
Artists invited for the updated version include include Usher, Usher, Wyclef Jean, and John Legend.
Reclusive smooth jazz legend Sade will release her sixth studio album, Soldier of Love, via Sony Music on Feb. 8. Executive produced by Mike Pela, the set features collaborations with Andrew Hale, Stuart Matthewman and Paul Spencer Denman.
The new disc is Sade’s first since the 2000 charttopper, Lover’s Rock.
New Amerykah, Part II: Return of the Ankh, the sixth studio album from neo-soul pioneer Erykah Badu,l is scheduled to drop on Feb. 23, 2010 via Universal Motown.
“I called it ‘Part II: The Return of the Ankh’ because this album is the sister of the left side of my brain — it is the right side,” Badu, 38, explained during a listening session this week at New York City’s Chung King Studios.
“‘Part I was the left side of my thoughts — it was more socially political and my thought process was more analytical,” she said. “This time there wasn’t anything to be concerned with — the album is more emotional and flowy and talks about feelings. It reminds of the days of ‘Baduizm’ — this is just about beats and rhymes in a cipher.”
Smooth jazz legend Sade is back! After a ten year hiatus from the industry, the star who burst onto the scene with a splash with her 1985 breakout hit, “Smooth Operator,” is coming out of her reclusive shell to release a new album just in time for Valentine’s Day 2010.
Take a listen to the newly-released title track for Sade’s forthcoming effort, Soldier of Love.
After a decade-long hiatus, smooth jazz/R&B legend Sade is back on the scene just in time for Valentine’s Day. The “Goddess of Love” is releasing her first album of new material since 2000′s Lover’s Rock just before the most romantic day of the year. The “Smooth Operator” hitmaker returned to the studio in June and completed work on Soldier of Love last month.
The album will feature a guest spot from Maxwell and is expected to drop Feb. 8, 2010.
Fans hoping to buy Usher’s new album in time for the holidays are out of luck — the release of Raymond Vs. Raymond has been pushed back. The singer’s sixth studio album was originally scheduled to hit stores in early 2010, but was later pushed up to Dec. 21.
However, the future of the LP remains uncertain after Usher announced he’s not ready for a holiday release.
“We believe that the album is so strong that we want to give it the opportunity to have the proper set-up before coming out,” a rep for the singer said Monday.
Usher recently finalized his divorce from wife of two years Tameka Foster.