Have you been steadily searching for that Johnta Austin album that was supposed to be released on Feb. 6? Or what about the latest releases from Bobby Valentino and/or Nina Sky, both of which were supposed to come out in February, as well? Well, all those albums, and several more, have had their release delayed and/or rescheduled. For answers on why, when and how, just read the winter 2007 edition your R&B Guide's list of delayed/rescheduled albums.
1. "Black Summer's Night" Maxwell
This one should come as no surprise. Last year on his MySpace page, Maxwell promised that his latest album,
Black Summer's Night, would be released on Feb. 13, 2007 - the day before Valentine's Day. Then he backed off that and said just the first single would be released on Valentine's Day. But on that date, the only thing posted on his MySpace page was an audio apology: "I've been working on it for about three days straight," he said. "I just don't feel it yet. I just want to send it out when it's right." No word yet on when/if he will release any music at all anytime in the next few months.
2. "Liberation" Mya
Mya's fourth album was supposed to be released in January 2007, but
Liberation was then pushed back to April after the first single, "Ayo," featuring DJ Kool, didn't do so well. Well, she's got another song out, "Lock U Down," feat. the rapper Lil Wayne, and on Feb. 14, her music label, Universal Motown, issued a press release saying that
Liberation will be released on June 26. Looks like it's going to happen.
3. "Special Occasion" Bobby Valentino
This album was first pushed back from 2006 to February 2007, then to March, then April. The second single, "Anonymous" feat. Timbaland will supposedly be released to radio stations around late February/early March, according to Bobby's label, Def Jam. And as of right now, the album has been rescheduled for April 3. This is not a good sign for Bobby V.'s career.
4. "Ocean Drive" Johnta Austin
Here's another album that's been pushed back a handful of times. It didn't come out in December 2006 or February 2007, as previously promised, and now the word is that the album's been done for awhile but keeps getting pushed back because the label he's signed to, So So Def (which is owned by producer Jermaine Dupri) split with Virgin Records and hooked up with Island Def Jam.
Ocean Drive got caught in the middle and hasn't yet been rescheduled for release.
5. "Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics" India.Arie
This is supposedly coming out sometime in the spring on the Motown label, but is likely to be pushed back to later in the year, since
Testimony Vol. 1 was only just released in June 2006.
6. "Physical Education" Brooke Valentine
Remember her? Brooke Valentine's second album was supposed to be out in January, 2007, but was pushed back due to a merger between the label she's signed to, Capitol Records, with Virgin records.
Physical Education currently has no release date set.
7. "Split Personality" Mila J.
The first album by the singer was due out in November 2006, but despite being finished, its been pushed back indefinitely, partially due to the poor performances by the album's first two singles.
8. "The Musical" Nina Sky
The sophomore album by this duo was supposed to be out in fall, 2006, then was pushed back to February 2007. Obviously, it didn't come out (partly because none of the three singles released were able to create much interest), and there's official word on when it will be released. The current rumor is that April 2007 is the target month.
9. "Milk & Honey" Tamar
This Prince protege is turning out to be as mysterious as the Purple One himself.
Milk & Honey was supposed to be released in the U.S. on Aug. 29, 2006. But then she was dropped by her label, Universal. After that, she disappeared. In a February 2007 interview with Billboard magazine, Tamar said owns the masters she recorded for Universal and plans to rework them slightly an put them on a new album. So it looks like
Milk & Honey will probably never be released as-is.
10. "Cheri Dennis" Cheri Dennis
Cheri, who's signed to Diddy's Bad Boy music label, was supposed to release her self-title debut album in January 2007, but for currently unknown reasons, its been pushed back indefinitely.
