Features

The Ru Report #160

Phenomenal Woman
Tweet is a soul survivor.

The neo-soul wunderkind has made a glorious return to the recorded music landscape with the critically acclaimed sophomore album, "It's Me Again," which arrives in stores on March 22.

And like with her first album "Southern Hummingbird," considered a gem by some, she has overcome some obstacles and is ready to share her experiences with the world. "People ask me 'Aren't you scared that you're too open?' and I say 'No, I just want to be me and this is who I am. I can't sugar coat anything. I'm going to write about what I go through and if in that I can help somebody then I've done my job."

Tweet, born Charlene Keys, takes a more hands-on approach on the 15-track set, a much brighter than the solemn and atmospheric "Hummingbird," which delivered a string of radio hits "Oops (Oh My)" and "Call Me," and subsequently made her a household name. Her mentor Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott is still is in the mix, along with former rapper turned neo-hit maker Kwame.

"You know I was kind of nervous right?" the Rochester, NY-bred singer/songwriter shared during an intimate interview with "The RU Report." "With the first album people were like, 'It's a classic!' So [I was thinking] when I went to do this album, does that mean that I have to duplicate 'Southern Hummingbird' again? But I don't feel that way anymore. I'm not dark. I'm not in that dark place and I just sent my prayers to God and He said 'just do what's in your heart.' And that's where I am right now."

When Tweet came on the scene in the spring of 2002, by way of Timbaland and Ms. Elliott, the neo-soul community, despite crafty marketing attempts to gloss her up, instantly embraced her as one of their own. And to add fuel to the flames, a fierce rivalry with another one-named-moniker singer-on-the rise ensued.

"You know what, I really didn't have a feeling about it," Tweet recalled about the controversial nature of the competition with Ashanti. "I thought we were both young women. I didn't know she was that younger than me. But I felt that we were both women just having the opportunity to get out there and do some music. I don't know how the whole beef came about--well I do know, it was between the two record companies, but I didn't have any because I feel we are two different artists and we have different messages to give and different music to give so I didn't feed into it."

Indeed.

The then-Murda Inc. princess was making a name for herself singing catchy hooks for rugged rappers like Ja Rule and Fat Joe, and also ghost-singing for J. Lo.

Tweet, on the other hand, focused more on pure musicality and sheer artistry--even strumming on the guitar in video clips. While each artist were received well by respective musical demographics, the machinery behind Ashanti led her to win Grammy and Soul Train awards and sell millions of records.

Although musically the contrasts are very stark between the two (and the fact that one is at least a decade older than the other), in many ways, Ashanti's overnight success dwarfed Tweet's efforts. Undaunted, she toured the country and became a bona fide musical attraction, becoming a cult favorite and wowing crowds at every opportunity.

"I always just want to give the people in the audience a sense of some good music and I want the same feeling that I get when I'm singing," she said of her live show. " I want to be able to touch the audience. So when I get the opportunity to perform live, I give it my all, not knowing what I'm going to do either."

Now here's the irony.

Due to the fluctuating nature of the music business, and the shuffling of high-powered music moguls and executives, namely former Def Jam President Lyor Cohen, the same team that brought Ashanti the major success that she's amassed is commandeering Tweet's latest project.

"It is [weird]," she revealed. " I thought about that. I was like 'Wow, funny how the tables turn.'"

"But hey," she said, still not feeding into any hype, "She's doing her thing and I appreciate that, and I'm back out again and hopefully I can satisfy my fans."

Throughout "It's Me Again," Tweet explores the ups and downs of relationships in the forthright manner that she has become known and respected for. "I'm Done" is a song she penned after a break-up, while on "My Man" she bluntly tells an ex-chick that 'you gotta let him go.' "Cab Ride" features music from the classic TV series "Taxi" and "The Two Of Us," is a duet with her 15-year-old daughter Tashawna. "This song honors our relationship because it's always been just the two of us, ever since she was born," she commented.

Another standout on the set is "Sports, Sex, Food," which Tweet considers a manual on how to keep a man. She admittedly isn't in a relationship, but says the song rings true. "When I heard the record, immediately I said that's my first single," she gushed. "It's about what women should do to keep their man, and I believe that because my brothers said that with those three things you can keep a man. Every time I perform it, men come up to me and say 'Oh my God, thank you for that." It's an amazing record."

"It ain't my approach," she replied when asked why is she single, if she has the 'answer.' "It's the choices that I have," she giggled, "I ain't got no choice. Where they at? Tell me where the men at. I can utilize the song. I got my manual; I know how to keep a man. I just don't know where he at."

Okay.

Another reason why people connect so well with Tweet is because of her honesty. She doesn't pull any punches. It is what it is. And she exudes that. A huge part of her initial publicity campaign talked about her contemplation of suicide and how Ms. Elliott, or that's how the story went, saved the day. "Just going through life in general and being in that group [Suga] for six years and singing the same 10 songs every year, constantly, never getting anywhere", she said is what contributed to the down-trodden spirit. "I was also thinking about my daughter and not being able to get a job once I left that, the eight year relationship that went downward. It just seemed as though everything hit the fan at the same time. And I just felt like I wasn't worthy of anything and I just didn't want to be here."

While Tweet speaks very highly of the multi-platinum, Grammy Award winning musical force-to-be reckoned with, she attributed her "rising above" to God. As she should.

"I think about that time and I say to myself 'What was I thinking?' because it wasn't even that bad. And someone else is worst off than me," she confided. "I had a roof over my head. I had food to eat. I had the activities of my limbs. I had breathing air. So what was I complaining about?"

Her overall message: "You can go through things but it feels great to come out of it with an understanding and some peace. I think that's what [this album] represents, for me."

The rollout for the album is off to a great start. Tweet is a presenter at "The 19th Annual Soul Train Music Awards," which continues to air in national syndication this weekend. She's featured in a fabulous "Spring" spread in the April issue of "Essence" magazine, and has upcoming coverage in periodicals such as "People," "Ebony" and "Source." And she's also singing the theme song for the new revival of the TV series "Kojak," which stars Ving Rhames and premieres next week. Now that's big.

"I'm comfortable in my skin," the Atlanta suburbs transplant, concluded, "and I'm grateful and happy for the blessing that God has bestowed on me. And this is what it is."

Stages
Broadway darling Capathia Jenkins, who sizzled on the Great White Way last spring playing a Washing Machine in the critically-acclaimed musical "Caroline, Or Change," is celebrating "she-power" with her latest stage performance. On March 20 and March 27, the voluptuous chanteuse will headline her very own set of shows in honor of Women's Herstory Month, at New York City's downtown hot-spot Joe's Pub at The Public Theater. Joined by award-winning composer Louis Rosen, the show, titled "Phenomenal Woman," will feature a twelve-song suite set to the poems of poet laureate Maya Angelou. The program, a World Premiere, promises to deliver of new contemporary American songs blending jazz, blues and popular styles. Ms. Jenkins, who also appears on Billy Porter's new album, "At The Corner Of Broadway & Soul," also received raves for her roles in other Broadway shows "The Civil War" and "The Look Of Love." (Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, (212) 239-6200, www.joespub.com).

"Golden Girl" star Rue McClanahan returns to Broadway, joining the cast of the Tony Award winning musical tour-de-force "Wicked," on May 31. That's the same day that the incomparable Ben Vereen steps in as The Wizard of the show that tells the back-story about Oz.

Royal Highness
Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin is holding court.

Though the multiple Grammy Award winning diva is reportedly in talks to star in the filmed adaptation of the hit Broadway musical "Hairspray"--which was initially a low-budget film--along with John Travolta and Billy Crystal, she has an array of other projects underway.

This week, she announced the inception of her very own music imprint, Aretha Records, which she will release her forthcoming album on in June. According to a spokesperson, Ms. Franklin collaborated with producers Troy Taylor and Mike Powell, and recorded duets with country/pop star Faith Hill, Grammy Award winning gospel sensation Smokie Norful and former Temptations leader Dennis Edwards.

It's been nearly two years since she released the Antonio "LA" Reid-helmed "So Damn Happy" to rave reviews. The new disc hasn't been titled as of yet, but plans are coming together rather briskly. Sony/BMG is expected to distribute the record.

Since then, she's been mostly recording, and performing select dates around the country. The new label marks the latest in a series of entrepreneurial ventures for Ms. Franklin, who opened her own booking agency last year.

The 16-time Grammy Award winner is set to perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., for a gala salute to American popular music of the 1940s being presented by the Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation Series for Artistic Excellence. An impressive gathering of music's brightest stars will join Ms. Franklin, including opera star Harolyn Blackwell, crooner Johnny Mathis and country music great Dwight Yoakam.

She will return to her gospel roots to headline three nights at the heavily-promoted McDonald's Gospelfest at New York City's Theater at Madison Square Garden June 1-3.

And in the midst of the proposed promotion of the new music project, Ms. Franklin will also headline this year's Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, July 1-3, which will also feature performances by Alicia Keys, Destiny's Child, John Legend and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly.

All hail to the Queen.

Etc
"America's Next Top Model" winner Eva Pigford isn't resting on her laurels. Not at all! The question: "What has she done?" will never be asked, like with the previous two winners of the wildly popular UPN 'dramality' series. Her Cover Girl campaign is in full bloom with massive print and electronic adverts. The 19-year old Los Angeles native is also featured in the April issue of "Essence" magazine. And on March 24, she will co-host the BET fashion special "Rip The Runway" with celebrity manservant-turned-overnight celebrity Fonzworth Bentley. Urban America's top designers Sean John, Baby Phat, G-unit, Def Jam University, swimwear designers Aqua Couture and Bathhouse all showcase their new lines, accompanied by on- stage performances from T.I., Fabolous, Doug E. Fresh, Brooke Valentine and Amerie. The special was taped at New York City's Roseland Ballroom a few weeks ago.

Multiple-Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter Alicia Keys will make her debut at Atlantic City's Tropicana Casino and Resort for a three-night engagement starting May 6.

On April 30, Academy Award nominated actress and Revlon spokeswoman Julianne Moore will be on hand for the 8th Annual Revlon Run/Walk For Women. Kicking off in Times Square, with more than 40,000 participants expected, the Run/Walk raises critical funds to support women's cancer research, counseling and outreach programs in the New York area and nationwide. Co-chaired by Ellen Barkin and Ronald O. Perelman, Lilly Tartikoff, Janet L. Robinson and Suzanne Wright, the Revlon Run/Walk for Women is one of the largest 5K events in the nation. The Run/Walks in New York and Los Angeles have raised approximately $32 million in funds since first launching in L.A. eleven years ago.

Talk about being quick, fast and in a hurry. This week Showtime announced their hit series, "Fat Actress," which is co-created by and stars Kirstie Alley will arrive on home video format on May 24. Uh, the show just debuted last week! According to a statement, the Viacom-owned network says that the "accelerated release" was impelled by "what has decidedly become a cultural phenomenon, aided by an extraordinary amount of press coverage and viewer demand." Okay. I've seen the show. It's something else, to say the least. The super-sized former "Cheers" beauty has a commanding and comedic presence. The cable network's premiere of the show was one of Showtime's highest rated programs in history. It will only see a total of seven episodes during its first run. And then the 2-disc DVD set will arrive at retail.

Something Special
An overwhelming response from last week's edition of "The RU Report" has prompted us offer a special giveaway of Brenda Stone-Browder's sensational new book "On The Up And Up: A Survival Guide For Women Living With Men On The Down Low."

As a minister and ex-wife of "On The Down Low" author J. L. King, Mrs. Browder tells how, after being in a down low marriage, she reclaimed her life. In her new book, she advises others how to recognize--and leave--before the "DL" literally costs them their lives.

Last year, Mr. King made "on the down low"--married men having sex with other men--a household expression, wrote about his life on the down low, and exposed his marriage to Mrs. Browder to the world (without discussing it with her or so much as giving her the book to read before he appeared on Oprah). Years of deception had led to him being found out and told to leave his home and family. His reward for lying, putting Brenda's life at risk, and breaking his vows was to become a media darling and the author of a six-month New York Times bestseller.

While Mr. King exposed the problem, bringing much needed recognition to this
lifestyle and its dangers, Mrs. Browder tells how to deal with it.

This book has sent shockwaves through the community and is considered "Required Reading" for Black Women.

Get this great giveaway while supplies last! Only a few entrants, selected at random, will receive a copy of the "On The Up And Up…" courtesy of Dafina Publishing.

To enter, send your name, mailing address, contact information, email address and daytime telephone number to: TheRUReport@aol.com.

Notable/Quotable

"LA was the most boring place in the world! The whole town did one thing. It was like growing up in a mining town if your parents were miners."
--Oscar, Tony, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning diva Liza Minnelli, about Tinsel town.

Coming Up
Next week, "The RU Report" will continue its annual month-long celebration of Phenomenal Women. Stay tuned.

©2005 The Ru Report™. All Rights Reserved~~P.O. Box #25 Bushkill PA 18324

Message Karu F Daniels or email him directly at therureport@aol.com