As Tom Petty once sang, the waiting is the hardest part. And if you've been anxiously awaiting an upcoming R&B release only to find that it keeps getting delayed and pushed back with no explanation, your Guide to R&B feels your pain. And in order to keep track of album delays, record deal cancellations, etc., every quarter yours truly keeps you up to speed by compiling a list of the top upcoming albums that have been delayed, pushed back or rescheduled. So if you're wondering about the long-delayed albums by Mya, Van Hunt, Tweet and others, please check out the Summer 2008 list of delayed albums below for more info.
"Liberation," Mýa
The fourth album from Mýa was supposed to be released in January 2007, but Liberation was then pushed back to April, then June after the first two singles didn't perform well. A single called "Ridin'" was released to radio in July of '07, but the album's 'official' release date of Sept. 18, 2007 came and went. In October of '07 the album was released in Japan as a digital-only download. As of now, the album is scheduled to be released in the U.S. sometime this summer. Don't hold your breath waiting though.
"Love, Tweet," Tweet
Love, Tweet is the upcoming third studio album by American R&B/soul singer Tweet and was originally due out in early 2008 on her new home label, indie Umbrella Recordings. The album has now been pushed back to the third or fourth quarter of '08.
Untitled Second Album, LeToya
LeToya Luckett's second studio album was scheduled to be released on June 10, 2008 through Capitol Music Group, but the album has been postponed several times due to the financial problems of her label, Capitol Records and no new release date's been set. In December 2007 a buzz single called "Swagger" leaked onto the Internet via Luckett's official fansite. The song might be included on the album as a bonus track.
"The Young Lioness," Teedra Moses
Teedra Moses' long-awaited sophomore album, The Young Lioness, which she wrote and executive produced, was originally due to be released by TVT Records in the fall of 2007. Then it was due out in early 2008, but that was before the label she's with, TVT Records, filed for bankruptcy. In June, TVT was sold to digital music company The Orchard for $6 million. Under the terms of the purchase, The Orchard takes control of TVT's catalogue and artist contracts, but Teedra's still in limbo for now.
"Ghetto Rose," KeKe Wyatt
Like Teedra Moses, KeKe Wyatt is signed to TVT Records and is in a similar situation. KeKe's had bad luck with record labels: her last album was originally due in early 2006 when she was signed to hip-hop label Cash Money Records. But then she left Cash Money and signed with TVT Records in August 2006. Her Cash Money album, Emotional Rollercoaster, was shelved indefinitely and might never be released. Her new album, Ghetto Rose was at one point expected out in October 2007, but due to TVT's sale it has been pushed back indefinitely, just like Teedra's album.
"Popular," Van Hunt
Van Hunt's signing to Jazz label Blue Note Records in 2007 didn't seem like a good look at the time - and it turned out not to be. In August 2007 Blue Note released a four-song, digital EP by Van called The Popular Machine that was supposed to be a preview of Van's new full-length album, Popular, which was due out in January 2008. But in December of '07, Van was released from Blue Note. Blue Note still owns the masters to Popular, however, and won't release the album or give the masters up to another label.
"One Chance," One Chance
This four-man vocal group, who are proteges of Usher, released their first single, "Look at Her," back in July 2006, then they promptly dropped off the map. Originally their album was set for release in November 2006, then pushed back to July 26, 2007, but still didn't get released. Finally, a new single, "U Can't," was released in April 2008, almost two years after the first track. Their upcoming debut album, which was originally called Private but is now self-titled, is currently scheduled to be released in September.
"From a Planet Called Harlem," Teyana Taylor
The debut album by talented young singer-rapper whose affiliated with Pharrel Williams and his Star Trak label, was originally scheduled to be released on May 1 2008, then on June 17 and now has been pushed back to an unspecified date in August. The album's first single is "Google Me," which was released in February.
